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Granberg S, Widén S, Gustafsson J. How to remain in working life with hearing loss - health factors for a sustainable work situation. Work 2024:WOR230377. [PMID: 38875067 DOI: 10.3233/wor-230377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with hearing loss (HL) are a vulnerable group in working life. Studies have shown that they are more likely than the general population to be in part-time work, to be unemployed, receive disability pension, and to be on sick leave. Many workers with HL also experience unhealthy work conditions, such as jobs where they experience high demands combined with low control as well as safety concerns and social isolation. There is a lack of studies that focus on factors that promote a healthy, sustainable work situation for the target group. OBJECTIVE To investigate health factors that contribute to a sustainable work situation for employees with HL. METHODS The current study was a comparative, observational study with a cross-sectional design including a clinical population of adults with HL. Comparisons were made between workers with HL "in work" and workers with HL on "HL-related sick leave". RESULTS Seven health factors were identified. Those "in work" experienced a healthier work environment as well as lower levels of mental strain, hearing-related work characteristics and content, cognitively demanding work content, hearing-related symptoms, energy-demanding activities, and bodily aches and pain than those on "HL-related sick leave". CONCLUSION The results demonstrate a clear pattern regarding health factors for a sustainable working life. The type of job was not related to whether an individual was on sick leave or working. Rather, the work climate and the content of the work mattered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Granberg
- School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden
| | - Stephen Widén
- School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden
| | - Johanna Gustafsson
- School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Sweden
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McNeice Z, Tomlin D, Timmer BHB, Short CE, Galvin K. Adults' recollections of discussions with their audiologist: a qualitative study of what was and was not successfully communicated about listening difficulties. Int J Audiol 2024:1-12. [PMID: 38739207 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2024.2351033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Some adults experience challenges in successfully communicating their listening difficulties to their audiologist, and report feeling that they are not always listened to or understood. This project examined adults' recollections of discussions with their audiologist to explore (1) how adults report describing their listening difficulties and (2) information that adults report they do not communicate, or do not communicate successfully, to their audiologist. DESIGN Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted. Interview transcripts were analysed using a template analysis approach. STUDY SAMPLE Fifteen adults who self-report listening difficulties, and who had previously consulted an audiologist. RESULTS Four themes were identified from adults' recollections of how they describe their listening difficulties: (1) situation or context of listening difficulties, (2) behavioural responses, (3) impacts of listening difficulties and (4) contributing factors. Adults report not always successfully communicating (1) emotional concerns and impacts, (2) descriptions of sound quality and (3) descriptions of changed listening experiences. CONCLUSION Results provide insights about the times when adults feel that communication with their audiologist is successful, or unsuccessful. The results are useful for informing interventions to help adults and audiologists communicate more effectively together. To further inform interventions, factors affecting adults' communication should be explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zoe McNeice
- Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Dani Tomlin
- Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Barbra H B Timmer
- Centre for Hearing Research (CHEAR), School of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Sonova AG, Staefa, Switzerland
| | - Camille E Short
- Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
- Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Karyn Galvin
- Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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Hughes SE, Boisvert I, McMahon CM, Steyn A, Neal K. Perceived listening ability and hearing loss: Systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276265. [PMID: 36282860 PMCID: PMC9595527 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hearing loss (HL) can affect communication in complex ways. Understanding how adults with HL reflect on and conceptualise the way they listen (metacognition) is required if interventions, and the outcome measures used to evaluate them, are to address barriers to functional communication arising from HL. OBJECTIVES This study describes how adults with HL experience and report the processes, behaviours, and components of listening, as presented in published studies. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies. METHODS Systematic searches identified English-language, peer-reviewed journal articles reporting the results of qualitative or mixed-methods studies of adults' with HL perceived listening abilities. Medline, PsychInfo, Web of Science, Embase, and Google Scholar were searched from inception to November 2021. Handsearching reference lists of included studies identified additional studies for inclusion. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) qualitative checklist was used to appraise studies' methodological quality. Data from included studies were analysed using thematic meta-synthesis. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of QUALitative (CERQual) approach assessed confidence in the review findings. Two reviewers independently completed all screening and quality appraisal. Thematic meta-synthesis and GRADE CERQual assessment was completed by one reviewer and confirmed by a second reviewer. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion. RESULTS Data from 46 studies were included in the review. Thematic meta-synthesis identified six descriptive themes: 1) perceived listening ability; 2) external modifiers; 3) psychosocial impacts of hearing loss; 4) communication partner perspectives; 5) self-efficacy for listening; and 6) cognitive load. GRADE CERQual ratings for descriptive themes ranged from low to moderate confidence. Descriptive themes were related by analytic themes of liminality and reciprocity. CONCLUSIONS Adults with HL provide in-depth accounts of components and processes of listening, with studies reporting both cognitive and affective experiences consistent with theoretical models of metacognition. The findings will inform content generation for a hearing-specific patient-reported outcome measure of perceived listening ability in everyday communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E. Hughes
- Centre for Patient Reported Outcome Research, Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC), West Midlands, United Kingdom
- Birmingham Health Partners Centre for Regulatory Science and Innovation, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Precision Therapeutics, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Narra Consulting Limited, Wales, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Medicine, Health, and Life Science, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Isabelle Boisvert
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- HEAR Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Catherine M. McMahon
- HEAR Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Katie Neal
- HEAR Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
- Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Shepherd Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- The Listening Lab, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Doutres O, Terroir J, Jolly C, Gauvin C, Martin L, Negrini A. Towards a Holistic Model Explaining Hearing Protection Device Use among Workers. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19095578. [PMID: 35564973 PMCID: PMC9102194 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19095578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Offering hearing protection devices (HPDs) to workers exposed to hazardous noise is a noise control strategy often used to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL). However, HPDs are used incorrectly and inconsistently, which explains their limited efficiency. Numerous models based on social cognition theories identify the significant factors associated with inconsistent HPD use and aim to improve HPD training programs and to increase HPD use. However, these models do not detail (dis)comfort aspects originating from complex interactions between characteristics of the triad “environment/person/HPD” while these aspects are known to largely influence HPD (mis)use. This paper proposes a holistic model explaining HPD (mis)use, based on the integration of a comfort model adapted to HPDs into an existing behavioral model already developed for HPDs. The model also takes into account the temporal dimension, which makes it possible to capture the scope of change in HPD-related health behaviors. This holistic description of HPD use could be used as a tool for stakeholders involved in HPD use to effectively prevent NIHL among workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Doutres
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, École de Technologie Supérieure (ÉTS), 1100 Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
- Correspondence:
| | - Jonathan Terroir
- Institut National de Recherche et de Sécurité (INRS), 1 Rue du Morvan, 54500 Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France;
| | - Caroline Jolly
- Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, Canada; (C.J.); (C.G.); (A.N.)
| | - Chantal Gauvin
- Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, Canada; (C.J.); (C.G.); (A.N.)
| | - Laurence Martin
- Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, 7077 av. du Parc, Montréal, QC H3N 1X7, Canada;
| | - Alessia Negrini
- Institut de Recherche Robert-Sauvé en Santé et en Sécurité du Travail (IRSST), 505 Boul. De Maisonneuve Ouest, Montréal, QC H3A 3C2, Canada; (C.J.); (C.G.); (A.N.)
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Scheuregger O, Hjortkjær J, Dau T. Identification and Discrimination of Sound Textures in Hearing-Impaired and Older Listeners. Trends Hear 2021; 25:23312165211065608. [PMID: 34939472 PMCID: PMC8721370 DOI: 10.1177/23312165211065608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sound textures are a broad class of sounds defined by their homogeneous temporal structure. It has been suggested that sound texture perception is mediated by time-averaged summary statistics measured from early stages of the auditory system. The ability of young normal-hearing (NH) listeners to identify synthetic sound textures increases as the statistics of the synthetic texture approach those of its real-world counterpart. In sound texture discrimination, young NH listeners utilize the fine temporal stimulus information for short-duration stimuli, whereas they switch to a time-averaged statistical representation as the stimulus' duration increases. The present study investigated how younger and older listeners with a sensorineural hearing impairment perform in the corresponding texture identification and discrimination tasks in which the stimuli were amplified to compensate for the individual listeners' loss of audibility. In both hearing impaired (HI) listeners and NH controls, sound texture identification performance increased as the number of statistics imposed during the synthesis stage increased, but hearing impairment was accompanied by a significant reduction in overall identification accuracy. Sound texture discrimination performance was measured across listener groups categorized by age and hearing loss. Sound texture discrimination performance was unaffected by hearing loss at all excerpt durations. The older listeners' sound texture and exemplar discrimination performance decreased for signals of short excerpt duration, with older HI listeners performing better than older NH listeners. The results suggest that the time-averaged statistic representations of sound textures provide listeners with cues which are robust to the effects of age and sensorineural hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Scheuregger
- Hearing Systems Section, Department of Health Technology, 5205Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jens Hjortkjær
- Hearing Systems Section, Department of Health Technology, 5205Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.,Danish Research Centre for Magnetic Resonance, Centre for Functional and Diagnostic Imaging and Research, Copenhagen University Hospital Hvidovre, Kettegård Allé 30, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark
| | - Torsten Dau
- Hearing Systems Section, Department of Health Technology, 5205Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
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Granberg S, Gustafsson J. Key findings about hearing loss in the working-life: a scoping review from a well-being perspective. Int J Audiol 2021; 60:60-70. [PMID: 33630697 DOI: 10.1080/14992027.2021.1881628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This scoping review investigated key findings about hearing loss (HL) in the working life (WL) from a well-being perspective. DESIGN A scoping review protocol was used to search the literature and to explore and extract key findings. A narrative analysis of key findings was used to group the data into themes. Study sample: Fifty-three articles from 29 different journals were included in the analysis. RESULTS The narrative analysis identified three broad themes; individual aspects, work environment and work organisation. Individual aspects concerned problems that workers with HL experienced in their working lives, strategies they used to manage their working lives and different aspects of health in relation to WL. Work environment focussed on the physical, organisational and social work environment. Work organisation identified aspects related to division of labour and employment status. CONCLUSIONS Several of the included papers revealed lots of findings but did not substantially discuss the findings from a WL perspective. HL and well-being in WL is a multidimensional phenomenon due to the interplay between the individual and the environment. This interplay is rarely discussed in the included papers. Furthermore, intersectional aspects are infrequently highlighted and need to be further explored in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Granberg
- School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.,Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.,Audiological Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Johanna Gustafsson
- School of Health Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden.,Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
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Vas V, Akeroyd MA, Hall DA. A Data-Driven Synthesis of Research Evidence for Domains of Hearing Loss, as Reported by Adults With Hearing Loss and Their Communication Partners. Trends Hear 2019; 21:2331216517734088. [PMID: 28982021 PMCID: PMC5638151 DOI: 10.1177/2331216517734088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of assessment tools exist to evaluate the impact of hearing loss, with little
consensus among researchers as to either preference or psychometric adequacy. The item
content of hearing loss assessment tools should seek to capture the impact of hearing loss
on everyday life, but to date no one has synthesized the range of hearing loss complaints
from the perspectives of the person with hearing loss and their communication partner. The
current review aims to synthesize the evidence on person with hearing loss- and
communication partner-reported complaints of hearing loss. Searches were conducted in Cos
Conference Papers Index, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature,
Excerpta Medica Database, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to identify
publications from May 1982 to August 2015. A manual search of four relevant journals
updated the search to May 2017. Of the 9,516 titles identified, 78 records (comprising
20,306 participants) met inclusion criteria and were taken through to data collection.
Data were analyzed using meta-ethnography to form domains representing the person with
hearing loss- and communication partner-reported complaints of hearing loss as reported in
research. Domains and subdomains mutual to both perspectives are related to “Auditory”
(listening, communicating, and speaking), “Social” (relationships, isolation, social life,
occupational, and interventions), and “Self” (effort and fatigue, emotions, identity, and
stigma). Our framework contributes fundamental new knowledge and a unique resource that
enables researchers and clinicians to consider the broader impacts of hearing loss. Our
findings can also be used to guide questions during diagnostic assessment and to evaluate
existing measures of hearing loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venessa Vas
- 1 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.,2 Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, 170718 University of Nottingham , UK
| | - Michael A Akeroyd
- 3 Medical Research Council Institute of Hearing Research, School of Medicine, The 170718 University of Nottingham , University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Deborah A Hall
- 1 National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Nottingham Biomedical Research Centre, Nottingham, UK.,2 Otology and Hearing Group, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, School of Medicine, 170718 University of Nottingham , UK
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Canton K, Williams W. The Consequences of Noise-Induced Hearing Loss on Dairy Farm Communities in New Zealand. J Agromedicine 2012; 17:354-63. [DOI: 10.1080/1059924x.2012.713840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Friesen MN, Krassikouva-Enns O, Ringaert L, Isfeld H. Community Support Systems for Farmers Who Live With Disability. J Agromedicine 2010; 15:166-74. [DOI: 10.1080/10599241003630569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Friesen M, Krassikouva-Enns O, Ringaert L, Isfeld H. Farming with a Disability: Literature from a Canadian Perspective. J Agromedicine 2010; 15:47-53. [DOI: 10.1080/10599240903389706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Kurmis AP, Apps SA. Occupationally-acquired noise-induced hearing loss: a senseless workplace hazard. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2007; 20:127-36. [PMID: 17638679 DOI: 10.2478/v10001-007-0016-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Occupational noise-induced hearing loss (ONIHL) describes an acquired hearing deficiency directly attributable to excessive workplace noise exposure. Data suggest that excessive noise attributes to approximately 37% of all adult causes of hearing loss and remains a significant contributor to employment-related morbidity internationally. Typically insidiously-acquired, often without frank progressive symptomatology, regional medical agencies continue to struggle with this potentially debilitating condition. The aim of the study was to provide a synopsis of the current understanding of ONIHL, its impact on individual workers and the wider international community, and to identify barriers to more uniform adoption of personal hearing protection. MATERIALS AND METHODS A review of the contemporary literature was performed using defined keyword searches and OVID, PubMed, and Google Scholar as primary electronic search engines. RESULTS A number of published works were identified, describing aspects of the relationship between workplace-related noise exposure and subsequent development of employee hearing impairment, which demonstrate an overwhelming gender imbalance, with up to 97% of affected individuals being male. Industry-specific associations (e.g., mining, manufacturing and heavy construction) were well documented, as were links to toxin-specific exposures, in the recognized development of hearing loss. However, evidence of integration of appraisal of the topically-current area of genetic susceptibility was often lacking. Much discordance still exists among international agencies in the prescriptive regulation and enforcement of "safe" exposure limits. CONCLUSIONS Despite a high level of public awareness regarding the importance of hearing preservation and increasingly stringent international occupational health, safety and welfare requirements mandating provision of safer work environments, ONIHL continues to be a significant occupational hazard. ONIHL is permanent and may cause significant disability, for which there currently exists no cure, but is largely overtly-preventable. The impact of ONIHL on the global transition toward dominant communication-rich white-collar employment roles is difficult to quantitate, but is likely to be substantive upon the afflicted individual. In the mainstream setting, exposure-avoidance strategies aimed to reduce the incidence of ONIHL remain the focus of public health and occupational medicine approaches.
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