Macquarie University Hearing, Department of Linguistics, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Department of Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
PLoS One. 2023 Mar 16;18(3):e0283171. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283171. eCollection 2023.
Often considered an "invisible disability", hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases and the third leading cause for years lived with disability worldwide. Hearing loss has substantial impacts on communication, psychological wellbeing, social connectedness, cognition, quality of life, and economic independence. The Hearing impairment in Adults: a Longitudinal Outcomes Study (HALOS) aims to evaluate the: (1) impacts of hearing devices (hearing aids and/or cochlear implants), (2) differences in timing of these interventions and in long-term outcomes between hearing aid and cochlear implant users, and (3) cost-effectiveness of early intervention for adult-onset hearing loss among hearing device users.
HALOS is a mixed-methods study collecting cross-sectional and longitudinal data on health and social outcomes from 908 hearing aid and/or cochlear implant users aged ≥40 years, recruited from hearing service providers across Australia. The quantitative component will involve an online survey at baseline (time of recruitment), 24-months, and 48-months and will collect audiological, health, psychosocial, functional and employment outcomes using validated instruments. The qualitative component will be conducted in a subset of participants at baseline and involve semi-structured interviews to understand the patient journey and perspectives on the Australian hearing service model.
This study has been approved by the Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (ID: 11262) and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (ID: LNR/22/SAC/88). Dissemination of results: Study findings will be disseminated to participants via a one-page summary, and to the public through publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at conferences.
Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry (ANZCTR) registration number: ACTRN12622000752763.
听力损失通常被认为是一种“隐形残疾”，是全球最普遍的慢性疾病之一，也是导致伤残调整寿命年的第三大原因。听力损失对交流、心理健康、社交联系、认知、生活质量和经济独立都有重大影响。成人听力障碍：纵向结局研究（HALOS）旨在评估：（1）听力设备（助听器和/或人工耳蜗）的影响；（2）助听器和人工耳蜗使用者干预时机和长期结果的差异；（3）助听器使用者成人听力损失早期干预的成本效益。
HALOS 是一项混合方法研究，从澳大利亚各地的听力服务提供者中招募了 908 名年龄≥40 岁的助听器和/或人工耳蜗使用者，收集健康和社会结果的横断面和纵向数据。定量部分将包括基线（招募时）、24 个月和 48 个月的在线调查，使用经过验证的工具收集听力、健康、心理社会、功能和就业结果。定性部分将在基线的一部分参与者中进行，包括半结构化访谈，以了解患者的就诊过程和对澳大利亚听力服务模式的看法。
本研究已获得麦考瑞大学人类研究伦理委员会（ID：11262）和南阿德莱德当地卫生网络（ID：LNR/22/SAC/88）的批准。研究结果的传播：将通过一页摘要向参与者传播研究结果，并通过在同行评议期刊上发表文章和在会议上发表演讲向公众传播。
澳大利亚新西兰临床试验注册中心（ANZCTR）注册号：ACTRN12622000752763。
