Communication Training in Hearing Aid Users

Communication Training in Hearing Aid Users

The objective of the current research project is to investigate the effectiveness of communication training in first-time hearing aid users with mild to moderate hearing loss delivered in-person in groups or individually. In doing so, the project aims to strengthen evidence-based person-centered care for individuals with hearing loss and pave the path toward more holistic hearing healthcare.

We hypothesize that participants receiving communication training will show improved hearing-related quality of life, communication strategies, and personal adjustment compared to controls. Moreover, group training is expected to yield greater benefits in communication strategies and adjustment than individual training, due to its interactive nature and peer support, leading to more positive evaluations in interviews.

A pretest-posttest design will be used, with testing before and after the communication training sessions, and two experimental groups and a control group. The two experimental groups are the groups receiving in-person group and individual training. The control group does not receive the communication training nor an alternative. A mixed-method will be applied to collect quantitative and qualitative data. The quantitative data include screening measures, audiological tests, and questionnaires, while the qualitative data consist of a semi-structured interview.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Dutch speaking first-time hearing aid users between 45-80 years
• Individuals with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss
• Individuals with bilateral hearing aids (minimal 6 months)
• Individuals who are capable to give consent to participate in the study themselves

Exclusion Criteria:

• User of cochlear implants
• Participants who have previously received auditory, auditory-cognitive, or communication training
• Participants with a middle ear disorder
• Participants without age-appropriate cognition