Ida Tool Study v1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does the Ida tool ‘My Hearing Loss Explained’ result in improved understanding of the consequences of hearing loss among older hearing impaired individuals seeking help for their hearing for the first time?
IRAS ID
288297
Contact name
Gabrielle Saunders
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
<Does the Ida tool ‘My Hearing Loss Explained’ result in improved understanding of the consequences of hearing loss among older hearing impaired individuals seeking help for their hearing for the first time?>
The hearing test (audiometry) is a major component of the initial clinical assessment for individuals seeking help for their hearing. It is used by audiologists to assess the need for, and form of, intervention recommended, as well as for explaining the hearing loss and its consequences to the client. There are concerns that the key messages, implications and relevance might not be clearly understood by many clients. Recently the Ida Institute developed a tool, ‘My Hearing Explained', that aims to make hearing test results easier to relate to clients through use of simple language and familiar icons. However, the extent to which this is achieved in practice has not been examined.
This study, which has been funded by the Ida Institute, will be conducted at the Audiology Department in Salford Royal Foundation Trust (SRFT). Participants, recruited immediately prior to their hearing assessment appointment at SRFT, will be older hearing impaired individuals who are seeking help for their hearing for the first time. Video recordings will be made of audiologists explaining participants' hearing test results. For half of the participants, this explanation will be supplemented by the use of the ‘My Hearing Explained' tool. A 20 minute follow up interview will also be conducted 1-7 days after the participants' hearing assessment appointments, in order to determine whether the tool results in an improved understanding of hearing loss and its consequences.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EM/0278
Date of REC Opinion
19 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion