Exploring The Lived Experience of Severe/Profound Hearing Loss
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the Day-to-Day Lived Experience of Acquired Severe/Profound Hearing Loss on Working Age Adults
IRAS ID
265602
Contact name
Amanda Hall
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 7 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study seeks to explore the way in which working age adults (aged 18-64) experience severe/profound hearing loss through the use of one-to-one interviews. We know from previous research and clinical experience that each person will experience their hearing loss in a very unique way. Working age adults make up a smaller proportion of people with hearing loss than other groups and their experiences are subsequently less comprehensively researched in the literature. This study aims to explore the experience of this group further by having in-depth, open and honest discussions with people who are directly affected by hearing loss every day. Interviews will last approximately 60-90 minutes and will be loosely led by an interview schedule, with participants being given freedom to discuss topics which they feel are important to them.
Interviews will be audio recorded and later transcribed word-for-word. These transcriptions of the conversations will then be analysed to find any patterns or "themes" in what was said. The selected methodology is known is as Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) and places great emphasis on the way that experiences are perceived, rather than on facts or concrete features of the experience.
Participants will be purposively sampled from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust Audiology Department's established patient database based upon an inclusion criteria which will take into account the person's age, hearing levels and other demographic factors. Sampling will be overseen by the project's clinical supervisor and will consist of verbal invitation to take part. Prospective participants will be given a participant information sheet and asked to contact the student researcher by email if they are interested in taking part.
Once interviews are complete and have been transcribed, the information will be written up into a thesis to meet the requirements of an MSc Clinical Sciences (Neurosensory Sciences) degree programme.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EM/0329
Date of REC Opinion
6 Nov 2019
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion