Hearing aid maintenance from the perspective of adult hearing aid user
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Hearing aid maintenance from the perspective of adult hearing aid users
IRAS ID
184899
Contact name
Frances Pedley
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Aston University
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 12 days
Research summary
Previous research has looked at many factors involved in getting used to hearing aids, and tentatively identified hearing aid maintenance as a potential stumbling block in this process. Hearing aid maintenance relates to looking after the hearing aid, from changing the battery and cleaning the aid to replacing parts. Some of this is managed by patients, some by the hearing aid service provider. Different providers vary in the support offered. There is a paucity of research looking at how patients view hearing aid maintenance. It is also not known whether any factors exist which influence patient confidence in hearing aid maintenance, what support patients would consider appropriate, or whether differences between patients exist which affect how much support they require managing their hearing aids.
Due to this lack of information, a qualitative approach will be taken to gather information on the patient experience of hearing aid maintenance. The aim is to identify any common themes in patient's experiences and entails undertaking observations and interviews with participants recruited from patients attending the drop-in Hearing Aid Repair service at the Royal Berkshire Hospital. Field notes of the observations (of repair sessions) will be analysed qualitatively. Participants will be invited to discuss their experiences of hearing aid maintenance via interview, for which separate consent will be obtained. The interview topics will include aspects of hearing aid management, the challenges faced by participants and discussion of how the repair service does, or does not, meet patients’ needs.
Data from the observations and interviews will be used to describe the patient experience of hearing aid maintenance, and to indicate any specific areas where patients may benefit from more (or different) support in maintaining their hearing aids, such as the provision of written information.
REC name
South West - Frenchay Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/SW/0351
Date of REC Opinion
10 Dec 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion