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Attitudes towards co-workers affected by occupational hearing loss. II: Focus groups interviews
British Journal of Audiology
|December 1, 1994
Summary
Fear of stigma causes workers with occupational hearing loss (OHL) to hide their condition, leading to unawareness and isolation. Awareness programs are needed to improve support and reduce marginalization for hearing-impaired workers.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Occupational hearing loss (OHL) is a significant workplace issue.
- Limited understanding exists regarding the social and psychological impact of OHL on workers.
- Previous research focused on attitudes, necessitating deeper exploration of lived experiences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore workers' perceptions of colleagues with occupational hearing loss (OHL).
- To identify factors contributing to social withdrawal and help-seeking behaviors in individuals with OHL.
- To define effective support strategies to mitigate social isolation among hearing-impaired workers.
Main Methods:
- Focus group interviews with 7-11 participants per group, recruited from questionnaire respondents.
- Use of prepared scenarios to guide discussions.
- Verbatim transcription and phenomenological-interpretative content analysis.
Main Results:
- Workers with OHL fear stigma, leading them to conceal symptoms and consequences.
- OHL is often perceived as minor in the workplace and ignored in daily interactions.
- Family members are affected, but hearing difficulties are frequently misinterpreted, hindering communication.
Conclusions:
- A large-scale, multi-target awareness program is proposed to destigmatize and support workers with OHL.
- Findings inform interventions for attitudes toward hearing impairment, rehabilitation, and OHL prevention.
- Addressing stigma and improving communication are crucial for social inclusion.