Beyond Hearing Aids: Involving the Veteran's Spouse in Rehabilitation

ABSTRACT

In many cases, special hearing aid features or assistive devices can result in improvement in problem situations. In a clinical interview with the patient alone, unmet needs are often not discussed because of lack of time or discomfort on the part of patients. It is essential to include the input of the spouses to assess the needs of the patient. Including the spouse in decision making is likely to result in increased independence and decreased isolation for the patient, resulting in positive outcomes for the spouse. The purpose of this project is to use case studies to describe the issues involved when the spouse is asked to participate in aural rehabilitation and to provide education to other professionals regarding new approaches to aural rehabilitation.

KEYWORDS

Hearing loss - spouse - quality of life - assistive devices - aural rehabilitation

REFERENCES

• 1 Wallhagen M I, Snowbridge W J, Shema S J, Kaplan G A. Impact of self-assessed hearing loss on a spouse: a longitudinal analysis of couples.  J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2004;  59B S190-S196
• 2 Donaldson N, Worrall L, Hickson L. Older people with hearing impairment: a literature review of the spouse's perspective.  Aust NZ J Audiol. 2004;  26 30-39
• 3 Armero O E. Effects of denied hearing loss on the significant other.  Hear J. 2001;  54 44-47
• 4 Waggoner M A. Growing a Healthy “Hybrid” Relationship. http://Available at: www.hearinglossweb.com Accessed April 27, 2005
• 5 Cox R, Stephens D, Kramer S. Translations of the International Outcome Inventory for Hearing Aids (IOI-HA).  Int J Audiol. 2002;  41 3-26