Understanding hearing health-care access in Australia: Users' perspectives

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this qualitative study was to evaluate the barriers and enablers to current hearing health-care services in Australia for middle-aged and older adults who use cochlear implants (CI) and/or hearing aids. Methods: Adults aged 40 years and older from the Hearing impairment Adults: a Longitudinal Outcomes Study (HALOS), with adequate English language skills, were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview about their hearing intervention journey. A thematic analysis was applied to the interview transcripts via inductive coding. Results: Thirty-one hearing device users (15 hearing aid users, 9 CI users and 7 bimodal users) across Australia enrolled in the interview. Themes identified include hearing care management, alternative support services, patient self-management and accessibility to hearing services. Conclusions: Findings indicated the need for primary health and hearing care professionals to reconsider their clinical approach with individuals with hearing loss. Rehabilitation, primary health and hearing care services ought to work together to create an integrated hearing care journey for patients.