Lived experiences and illness perceptions of older adults with age-related hearing loss before the use of hearing aids: An interpretative phenomenological study

Ya-Chuan Tseng; Sara Hsin-Yi Liu; Bih-Shya Gau; Tien-Chen Liu; Nien-Tzu Chang; Meei-Fang Lou

doi:10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.11.006

Lived experiences and illness perceptions of older adults with age-related hearing loss before the use of hearing aids: An interpretative phenomenological study

Geriatr Nurs. 2024 Nov 19:61:231-239. doi: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.11.006. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ya-Chuan Tseng¹, Sara Hsin-Yi Liu², Bih-Shya Gau³, Tien-Chen Liu⁴, Nien-Tzu Chang⁵, Meei-Fang Lou⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, No. 261, Wenhua 1st Rd., Guishan Dist., Taoyuan City 33303, Taiwan. Electronic address: yachuantseng@mail.cgust.edu.tw.
² Department of Nursing, Deh Yu College of Nursing and Health, No. 336, Fu Hsin Rd., Zhongshan Dist., Keelung City 20301, Taiwan. Electronic address: hsinyiliu@ems.dyhu.edu.tw.
³ School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen-Ai Rd., Taipei 10051, Taiwan. Electronic address: bsgau@ntu.edu.tw.
⁴ Department of Otolaryngology, National Taiwan University Hospital, No.7, Chung Shan S. Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei 100225, Taiwan. Electronic address: liuent@ntu.edu.tw.
⁵ School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen-Ai Rd., Taipei 10051, Taiwan. Electronic address: ntchang@ntu.edu.tw.
⁶ School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen-Ai Rd., Taipei 10051, Taiwan. Electronic address: mfalou@ntu.edu.tw.

PMID: 39566234
DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2024.11.006

Abstract

Age-related hearing loss is a chronic health condition. This qualitative study applied the Common-Sense Model of Self-Regulation to explore the lived experiences and illness perceptions of older adults with age-related hearing loss. Twenty older adults ≥ 65 years of age with hearing loss were recruited by purposive sampling. Data were collected with face-to-face semi-structured interviews. Interpretive phenomenological analysis analyzed the interview data. Four overarching themes described the experience of hearing loss: 1) awareness, 2) impacts, 3) coping, and 4) appraisal. These highlight of how participants perceived and reacted to progressive hearing loss before adopting hearing aids. The impact of hearing loss was diverse and complex and included fatigue, stress, and interpersonal conflicts. Participants responded with changes in behaviors that were proactive or avoidant. Our findings may help clinicians understand how older adults perceive and manage age-related hearing loss, which could guide the development of effective individual and family-focused interventions.

Keywords: Age-related hearing loss; Common-sense model; Geriatric nursing; Illness perceptions; Lived experiences; Older adults; Qualitative research.