Effects of hearing impairment: perspectives of older people and their spouses

Hearing impairment (HI) is one of the most prevalent health conditions in older people, affecting the quality of life of both the person with HI and his or her significant others. In order to gain a more in-depth understanding of this issue from the perspective of those affected by HI, a qualitative study involving semistructured surveys was conducted. Participants included 117 older people with HI and 27 spouses of the people with HI. The aims were (a) to investigate the impact of HI experienced by older people with HI and their significant others; and (b) to determine how these couples adapt to their hearing difficulties. Results revealed a similar spectrum of effects for both the people with HI and their spouses. People with HI and their spouses were both concerned about the psychosocial aspects of HI, with social isolation and emotional effects reported by participants. The positive aspects of hearing loss and use of coping strategies were also discussed by participants, with both parties indicating that they had developed positive coping mechanisms