Hearing impaired persons' experiences with the online Swedish Individualized Active Communication Education (I-ACE)...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Rehabilitation

Background:

• Hearing aids alone do not fully restore hearing in challenging environments.
• Active Communication Education (ACE) is a group program to improve communication strategies for hearing loss.
• An individualized, online version (I-ACE) was developed to enhance accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of delivering the Swedish Individualized Active Communication Education (I-ACE) program online.
• To explore the experiences of individuals with hearing impairment participating in the I-ACE program.

Main Methods:

• Ten participants completed the 5-week online Swedish I-ACE program.
• Weekly online modules with individual feedback were provided.
• Participant experiences were gathered through evaluation forms and interviews.

Main Results:

• The program completion rate was 80%.
• Participants considered the I-ACE program informative, relevant, and comprehensible, with minimal negative feedback on repetition.
• Most participants experienced no significant difficulties with the online platform.

Conclusions:

• The online delivery of the I-ACE program is feasible for individuals with hearing impairment.
• The program's content is well-received and effective in delivering communication strategies.
• Further research is recommended to evaluate the I-ACE program's impact on hearing loss rehabilitation outcomes.