Bennett Rebecca J, Meyer Carly J, Eikelboom Robert H
Ear Science Institute Australia, Subiaco, Australia.
Ear Sciences Centre, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia.
J Am Acad Audiol. 2019 Jun;30(6):516-532. doi: 10.3766/jaaa.17129. Epub 2019 Mar 7.
Clinical studies have found up to 90% of hearing aid owners demonstrate difficulty with basic hearing aid management tasks and almost 50% of hearing aid owners self-report not receiving enough practical help from their clinician regarding how to use their hearing aid. Although studies have highlighted the overwhelming amount of information and training required to learn how to use a hearing aid appropriately, a gap remains in the literature regarding the range of methods by which hearing aid owners acquire the knowledge and skills for hearing aid use, and whether these approaches are considered beneficial.
To gain insight into how both hearing aid owners and hearing health clinicians view the acquisition of hearing aid management skills and the efficacy of currently used methods of hearing aid training.
Concept mapping techniques were used to identify key themes, wherein participants generated, sorted, and rated the importance of statements in response to the question "How do hearing aid owners learn the skills required to use, handle, manage, maintain, and care for their hearing aids?"
Twenty-four hearing aid owners (aged 56-91 years; 54.2% male) and 22 clinicians (aged 32-69 years; 9.1% male).
Participant perspectives were collected via group concept mapping sessions in October 2015. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to identify themes and develop a framework for understanding how skill acquisition occurs. Participants rated each method of hearing aid skill acquisition as to how beneficial it was and how often it was used.
Participants identified 75 unique items describing how hearing aid management skills are acquired within six concepts: (1) Relationship with the clinician, (2) clinician as a source of knowledge and support, (3) hands-on experience, (4) seeking additional information, (5) asking support people for help, and (6) external resources.
The results of this study highlight the diverse methods and sources by which hearing aid owners learn the skills necessary to use, manage, and maintain their hearing aids. Significant emphasis was placed on the role of the hearing health clinician to provide training, support, and an ongoing professional relationship, with lesser roles played by family, friends, and other health professionals.
临床研究发现，高达90%的助听器使用者在基本的助听器管理任务上存在困难，近50%的助听器使用者自我报告称，在如何使用助听器方面未从临床医生那里获得足够的实际帮助。尽管研究强调了学习如何正确使用助听器需要大量的信息和培训，但文献中在助听器使用者获取使用助听器的知识和技能的方法范围，以及这些方法是否被认为有益方面仍存在空白。
深入了解助听器使用者和听力健康临床医生如何看待助听器管理技能的获取以及当前使用的助听器培训方法的效果。
采用概念映射技术来识别关键主题，参与者针对“助听器使用者如何学习使用、操作、管理、维护和保养其助听器所需的技能？”这一问题生成、分类并评定陈述的重要性。
24名助听器使用者（年龄56 - 91岁；男性占54.2%）和22名临床医生（年龄32 - 69岁；男性占9.1%）。
通过2015年10月的小组概念映射会议收集参与者的观点。使用层次聚类分析来识别主题并构建一个理解技能获取方式的框架。参与者对每种助听器技能获取方法的有益程度和使用频率进行评分。
参与者确定了75个独特项目，描述了在六个概念内如何获取助听器管理技能：(1) 与临床医生的关系，(2) 临床医生作为知识和支持的来源，(3) 实践经验，(4) 寻求更多信息，(5) 向他人寻求帮助，以及(6) 外部资源。
本研究结果突出了助听器使用者学习使用、管理和维护其助听器所需技能的多样方法和来源。重点显著放在听力健康临床医生提供培训、支持以及持续专业关系的作用上，而家庭、朋友和其他健康专业人员所起的作用较小。
