Client and Clinician Perspectives on the Roles and Responsibilities of Hearing Care Practitioners in Addressing...

Hearing loss (HL) has been associated with declines for cognitive, physical, and other facets of health. Accordingly, hearing care practitioners (HCPs) may have a responsibility to address health domains beyond hearing. The current study compared client and HCP attitudes toward the role of HCPs in addressing such domains.

One thousand four hundred one clients and 94 HCPs were recruited from Connect Hearing, a network of audiology clinics across North America. Clients and HCPs completed questionnaires focused on five health domains associated with HL (cognitive health, socioemotional health, physical health, mobility and balance, and overall wellness). Prior to their hearing care appointment, clients indicated their expectations of HCPs to address such domains. Concurrently, HCPs indicated their perceived ability to address the domains.

HCP ability was significantly greater than client expectations within the domains of cognitive and socioemotional health, while client expectations were greater than HCP ability within the domains of physical health and mobility and balance.

HCPs report that they are generally capable of fulfilling their role and meeting their clients' expectations across health domains beyond hearing. Potential strategies to enhance alignment between client expectations and HCP ability are discussed. Such strategies include holistic and integrated care.

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.29525603.