Social-emotional well-being and adult hearing loss: clinical recommendations

Timmer, Barbra H.B.; Bennett, Rebecca J.; Montano, Joseph; Hickson, Louise; Weinstein, Barbara; Wild, Jane; Ferguson, Melanie; Holman, Jack A.; LeBeau, Valeri; Dyre, Lisa

Abstract

Aim: Best-practice in audiological rehabilitation takes a holistic client- and family-centred approach and considers hearing care in the context of personal well-being. Hearing loss not only impairs the ability to hear, but can also compromise the ability to communicate, thus negatively impacting both social and emotional well-being. Hearing care professionals play a key role in fostering their client’s well-being. This paper aims to provide evidence-based recommendations to ensure inclusion of social-emotional well-being in audiologic rehabilitation clinical practice. Methods: A review of current research and expert opinion. Results: This guide proposes a 5-step plan which includes: identifying the client’s social-emotional well-being; including family members in audiological rehabilitation; incorporating social-emotional needs and goals in an individualized management plan; relating identified hearing needs and goals to rehabilitation recommendations; and using counselling skills and techniques to explore and monitor social-emotional well-being. Each component of the 5-step plan is discussed and clinical considerations are presented. Conclusion: These comprehensive recommendations provide guidance to hearing care professionals looking to ensure clients’ social-emotional well-being are considered throughout the rehabilitation journey.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 8, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 24, 2023
• Deposit Date: Apr 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 5, 2023
• Journal: International Journal of Audiology
• Print ISSN: 1499-2027
• Electronic ISSN: 1708-8186
• Publisher: Informa UK Limited
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864
• Keywords: Social-emotional; well-being; hearing loss; audiological care
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/19009875
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14992027.2023.2190864