Adult Children’s Perspectives on Their Role in Their Parent’s Hearing Healthcare Processes

Abstract

Background:

Communication partners play an important role in the hearing healthcare (HHC) process of the person with hearing impairment (HI). However, present research focuses mainly on the role of the spouse; the role of the adult child is often overlooked or understated.

Purpose:

The aim of the study was to describe the role of the adult child in the HHC process of a parent with HI.

Research Design:

Using a qualitative study design, participants described their role in their parents’ HHC process and the impact of a parent’s HI on their relationship and communication in individual semi-structured interviews.

Study Sample:

Twelve adult children of ten parents with HI participated; two sets of siblings were included to gain different perspectives on the HHC process within the same family.

Data Collection and Analysis:

Thematic analysis, a qualitative method to explore participant’s perceptions and viewpoints, was used as the method of analysis.

Results:

The superordinate theme discussed most frequently by participants, communication management, was bolstered by three ideas or pillars: facilitating HHC, communication strategies, and encouraging hearing aid use. Adult children saw themselves as advocates or supporters of their parent’s HHC by taking an ongoing and active role in promoting successful communication rather than a role in directing their parent’s HHC actions. Within each pillar of communication management, participants’ perceptions and actions were modulated by the varying levels of effort and a desire to ask questions to better understand how to help their parent, which in turn influenced their awareness of the HI and HHC options, often resulting in the adult child putting forth new effort.

Conclusions:

Whereas the patient journey is often presented to the patient as a linear process, the adult children instead viewed the process of communication management as an ongoing and continuous cycle. The audiologist should be encouraged to involve adult children in the HHC process, as adult children play an important role in everyday communication management.

Key Words

adult children - auditory rehabilitation - communication partners - HHC - HI

This research was funded by a grant from the Oticon Foundation.

Portions of this article were presented at the 7th International Adult Aural Rehabilitation Conference (May 2013) and AudiologyNow! (April 2017).

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