Experiences of individuals with adult-acquired hearing loss using hearing technology: A qualitative meta-synthesis...

Individuals with adult-acquired hearing loss (HL) face many adjustments once diagnosed. The purpose of this qualitative meta-synthesis systematic review was to explore the experiences of working-age adults with adult-acquired HL who use hearing technology. This information can help identify gaps in clinical intervention for working-age adults with HL.

Researchers conducted a systematic review to examine articles pertaining to adults with adult-acquired HL, then performed a meta-analysis to better understand the difficulties individuals diagnosed and treated for HL in adulthood may face. The method was informed by systematic review and qualitative research methodologies. Researchers filtered articles via databases (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Education Resources Information Center (ERIC), Medline, and PsychINFO) then imported articles into Covidence. Articles that were included in the study were reviewed and, using a qualitative interpretive approach to the data synthesis, reappearing and relevant themes were identified.

Seven articles met inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Two main themes emerged from the data, Internal Struggles and External Struggles, based on sub-themes that described experiences that individuals with HL reported facing due to their HL.

Individuals with HL could benefit from options that include counseling for themselves or loved ones, education about HL, healthcare providers' encouragement to seek audiologists, and continuity of HL intervention once the treatment plan is determined. A limitation of this study includes a possible lack of diversity within each study.