A Self-management Intervention for Adult Patients With Hearing Difficulties to Promote Hearing Aid Use and Benefit

A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Self-management Intervention for Adult Patients With Hearing Difficulties to Promote Hearing Aid Use and Benefit.

The aim of the present study is to test I-PLAN as a self-management tool to promote hearing aid use and benefit (measured by self-reported questionnaires and hearing aid data-logging) among new adult hearing aid patients via a randomised controlled trial compared to treatment as usual. We hypothesized that the I-PLAN will increase hearing aid use and reduce self-reported hearing difficulty via promoting hearing aid use habits and self-regulation with respect to hearing aid use.

The aim of the present study is to test I-PLAN, an intervention designed to promote hearing aid use among adult hearing aid patients, for the first time. I-PLAN is the first intervention in audiology that has been developed using the behaviour change wheel. It consists of three components; i) provision of written information regarding consequences of using a hearing aid and not using a hearing aid, ii) the provision of a physical prompt for the purpose of prompting or cueing the behavior (hearing aid use) development, and iii) creation of a written behavioural plan for hearing aid use.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged 18 years old or above
2. Have never used a hearing aid before
3. Have good understanding of English
4. have sufficient mental capacity to provide informal consent based on audiologist's opinion

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Have inability to complete the questionnaires due to age-related problems (for example; dementia) based on audiologist's opinion
2. presence of medical contraindications for hearing aids as described by the British Academy of Audiology (BAA, 2007)