{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,18]],"date-time":"2026-08-18T04:28:23Z","timestamp":1787027303166,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":45,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,11]],"date-time":"2024-12-11T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1733875200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Rehabil. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Introduction<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Hearing loss and Deafness\/deafness affects as much as 5% of the world's population and has a considerable health and economic burden. We explored the relationship with hearing and hearing aids as well as other assistive technology for health in general with a cohort of UK adults who have conductive hearing loss. We anticipated that insights could lead to greater understanding for the delivery of assistive technology (AT) for conductive hearing loss and the participant's lived experience related to technology and society.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>This study presents the qualitative findings from a mixed methods study exploring the story of each participant's hearing, the impact on their lives and their experience and use of AT. A purposive sample of 33 adults with conductive hearing loss took part in semi-structured interviews. Participants were aged \u226518 years and had previously attended outpatient ENT or audiology clinic at University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust. Transcripts underwent thematic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      The overarching theme was \u201cA changing relationship over time with deafness, themselves and society\u201d. The three principle sub-themes of the interviews were \u201ca technological world\u201d describing the necessity of interaction with people &amp;amp; technology' both as children and adults, then the concept of \u201cNormalised Marginalisation\u201d-the struggle of childhood and school in the face of social norms' and typicality. Finally, there were issues raised about visibility and \u201cthe visible display of D\/deafness\u201d, tied to aesthetics, vanity and traditional ideas about masculinity. Many participants described their adoption of new technology or devices as \u201c\n                      <jats:italic>transforming their life<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u201d and their quality of life without assistive technology as significantly impaired.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Insights from this study described the experiences of adults with conductive hearing loss and the ways in which they have a difficult relationship with their deafness, including how they felt and viewed themselves and how they interacted with society, particularly as children and young adults. The potential for benefit of assistive technology for hearing health was deemed by many participants to be a necessary bridge integrating them in relationships with other people in society. Early notions of disability, typicality and social norms frequently persisted into adulthood and these insights should be considered by all those professional seeking to provided hearing health assistance to individuals with conductive hearing loss.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fresc.2024.1491473","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,11]],"date-time":"2024-12-11T02:17:10Z","timestamp":1733883430000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Experience of conductive hearing loss and impacts of hearing aid use throughout life"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"5","author":[{"given":"Thomas","family":"Hampton","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Manuel","family":"Loureiro","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kevin","family":"Mortimer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Deborah","family":"Nyirenda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,11]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","article-title":"Snapshot","year":""},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"536","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-020-01945-6","article-title":"Regional patterns and trends of hearing loss in England: evidence from the English longitudinal study of ageing (ELSA) and implications for health policy","volume":"20","author":"Tsimpida","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"key":"B3","article-title":"act-plan-hearing-loss-upd.pdf","year":""},{"key":"B4","article-title":"Clinical commissioning policy: bone conducting hearing implants (BCHIs) for hearing loss (all ages)","year":"2016"},{"key":"B5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"16063","DOI":"10.1038\/nrdp.2016.63","article-title":"Otitis media","volume":"2","author":"Schilder","year":"2016","journal-title":"Nat Rev Dis Primer"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"138935","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/138935","article-title":"A prevalence study of hearing loss among primary school children in the south east of Iran","volume":"2013","author":"Absalan","year":"2013","journal-title":"Int J Otolaryngol"},{"key":"B7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"24","DOI":"10.17430\/1003459","article-title":"Conductive hearing loss withinuniversal newborn hearing screeningprograms: a systematic review","volume":"9","author":"Collins","year":"2019","journal-title":"J Hear Sci"},{"key":"B8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"141","DOI":"10.3109\/1651386X.2011.631285","article-title":"WHO ear and hearing disorders survey in four provinces in China","volume":"9","author":"Bu","year":"2011","journal-title":"Audiol Med"},{"key":"B9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"356","DOI":"10.1177\/01945998211062153","article-title":"Prevalence of tympanic membrane perforations among adolescents, adults, and older adults in the United States","volume":"167","author":"Kim","year":"2022","journal-title":"Otolaryngol Neck Surg"},{"key":"B10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"215","DOI":"10.1080\/14992027.2016.1244868","article-title":"Otoscopic examinations reveal high prevalence of outer and middle ear pathologies in paediatrics in Limpopo, South Africa","volume":"56","author":"Phanguphangu","year":"2017","journal-title":"Int J Audiol"},{"key":"B11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e14060","DOI":"10.1111\/hex.14060","article-title":"The (in)visibility of deafness: identity, stigma, quality of life and the potential role of totally implantable cochlear implants","volume":"27","author":"Lo","year":"2024","journal-title":"Health Expect"},{"key":"B12","article-title":"What is the difference between deaf and Deaf?","year":""},{"key":"B13","article-title":"Glasgow Caledonian University | Scotland, UK","year":"2022"},{"key":"B14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.1111\/j.0008-3658.2003.00035.x","article-title":"\u201cIt feels like being Deaf is normal\u201d: an exploration into the complexities of defining D\/deafness and young D\/deaf people\u2019s identities","volume":"47","author":"Skelton","year":"2003","journal-title":"Can Geogr G\u00e9ographies Can"},{"key":"B15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"E506","DOI":"10.1503\/cmaj.160905","article-title":"More than meets the eye: deafness and in\/visible disabilities","volume":"189","author":"Healey","year":"2017","journal-title":"CMAJ"},{"key":"B16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/14992027.2023.2293651","article-title":"To tell or not to tell? Exploring the social process of stigma for adults with hearing loss and their families: introduction to the special issue","author":"Ekberg","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Audiol"},{"key":"B17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"302","DOI":"10.1080\/1041794X.2020.1820562","article-title":"Managing hearing loss stigma: experiences of and responses to stigmatizing attitudes & behaviors","volume":"85","author":"Lash","year":"2020","journal-title":"South Commun J"},{"key":"B18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"567","DOI":"10.1080\/14992027.2020.1773550","article-title":"Adoption, use and non-use of hearing aids: a robust estimate based on Welsh national survey statistics","volume":"59","author":"Dillon","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Audiol"},{"key":"B19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.3310\/hta11420","article-title":"Acceptability, benefit and costs of early screening for hearing disability: a study of potential screening tests and models","volume":"11","author":"Davis","year":"2007","journal-title":"Health Technol Assess."},{"key":"B20","article-title":"Product narrative: hearing aids. AT2030 programme & ATscale Global Partnership for Assistive Technology.","author":"Kejariwal","year":"2019"},{"key":"B21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"4030","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm12124030","article-title":"Factors impacting the use or rejection of hearing aids-a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"12","author":"Marcos-Alonso","year":"2023","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"B22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"973","DOI":"10.1080\/14992027.2022.2111373","article-title":"A qualitative investigation of the hearing and hearing-aid related emotional states experienced by adults with hearing loss","volume":"62","author":"Holman","year":"2023","journal-title":"Int J Audiol"},{"key":"B23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"446","DOI":"10.1093\/deafed\/ent022","article-title":"Deafblind people, communication, independence, and isolation","volume":"18","author":"Hersh","year":"2013","journal-title":"J Deaf Stud Deaf Educ"},{"key":"B24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1440","DOI":"10.1186\/s12913-023-10339-4","article-title":"Cultural competence in NHS hearing aid clinics: a mixed-methods case study of services for deaf British sign language users in the UK","volume":"23","author":"Hulme","year":"2023","journal-title":"BMC Health Serv Res"},{"key":"B25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"59","DOI":"10.1177\/1525822X05279903","article-title":"How many interviews are enough?: an experiment with data saturation and variability","volume":"18","author":"Guest","year":"2006","journal-title":"Field Methods"},{"key":"B26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"148","DOI":"10.1186\/s12874-018-0594-7","article-title":"Characterising and justifying sample size sufficiency in interview-based studies: systematic analysis of qualitative health research over a 15-year period","volume":"18","author":"Vasileiou","year":"2018","journal-title":"BMC Med Res Methodol"},{"key":"B27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa","article-title":"Using thematic analysis in psychology","volume":"3","author":"Braun","year":"2006","journal-title":"Qual Res Psychol"},{"key":"B28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.1353\/aad.0.0119","article-title":"Without boundaries: an inquiry into deaf epistemologies through a metaparadigm","volume":"154","author":"Wang","year":"2010","journal-title":"Am Ann Deaf"},{"key":"B29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"428","DOI":"10.1353\/aad.2013.0004","article-title":"Understanding deafhood: in search of its meanings","volume":"157","author":"Kusters","year":"2013","journal-title":"Am Ann Deaf"},{"key":"B30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"171","DOI":"10.1080\/09687599550023633","article-title":"Constructions of deafness","volume":"1","author":"Lane","year":"1995","journal-title":"Disabil Soc"},{"key":"B31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"589","DOI":"10.1080\/2159676X.2019.1628806","article-title":"Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis","volume":"11","author":"Braun","year":"2019","journal-title":"Qual Res Sport Exerc Health"},{"key":"B32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"40","DOI":"10.1111\/medu.13124","article-title":"Shedding the cobra effect: problematising thematic emergence, triangulation, saturation and member checking","volume":"51","author":"Varpio","year":"2017","journal-title":"Med Educ"},{"key":"B33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"349","DOI":"10.1093\/intqhc\/mzm042","article-title":"Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups","volume":"19","author":"Tong","year":"2007","journal-title":"Int J Qual Health Care"},{"key":"B34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1080\/14643154.2022.2035485","article-title":"The importance of the lived experience of deaf people","volume":"24","author":"Duncan","year":"2022","journal-title":"Deaf Educ Int"},{"key":"B35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2137","DOI":"10.2105\/AJPH.2016.303448","article-title":"Conducting accessible research: including people with disabilities in public health, epidemiological, and outcomes studies","volume":"106","author":"Rios","year":"2016","journal-title":"Am J Public Health"},{"key":"B36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"216","DOI":"10.1080\/02667363.2018.1557113","article-title":"Exploring the social inclusion of deaf young people in mainstream schools, using their lived experience","volume":"35","author":"Edmondson","year":"2019","journal-title":"Educ Psychol Pract"},{"key":"B37","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"339","DOI":"10.1177\/0894318406292827","article-title":"A phenomenological study: the lived experience of persons having a different sense of hearing","volume":"19","author":"Aquino-Russell","year":"2006","journal-title":"Nurs Sci Q"},{"key":"B38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"63","DOI":"10.1080\/14992027.2018.1531154","article-title":"What do hearing healthcare professionals do to promote hearing aid use and benefit among adults? A systematic review","volume":"58","author":"Ismail","year":"2019","journal-title":"Int J Audiol"},{"key":"B39","article-title":"Support to ATscale to develop audiological profiles for pre-programmable hearing aids and to analyse operational experience of the use of pre-programmable hearing aids in low & middle-income countries","year":""},{"key":"B40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3470","DOI":"10.3390\/ijerph17103470","article-title":"Impact of hearing aids on poverty, quality of life and mental health in Guatemala: results of a before and after study","volume":"17","author":"Spreckley","year":"2020","journal-title":"Int J Environ Res Public Health"},{"key":"B41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"789","DOI":"10.1080\/14992027.2020.1864486","article-title":"Development of a public audiology service in southern Malawi: profile of patients across two years","volume":"60","author":"Parmar","year":"2021","journal-title":"Int J Audiol"},{"key":"B42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gerinurse.2023.05.001","article-title":"Exploring the relationship between planned behavior and self-determination theory on health-seeking behavior among older adults with hearing impairment","volume":"52","author":"Ramos","year":"2023","journal-title":"Geriatr Nur (Lond)"},{"key":"B43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1145\/3214382","article-title":"\u201cWear it loud\u201d: how and why hearing aid and cochlear implant users customize their devices","volume":"11","author":"Profita","year":"2018","journal-title":"ACM Trans Access Comput"},{"key":"B44","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1017946","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2022.1017946","article-title":"Technology challenges among deaf and hard of hearing elders in China during COVID-19 pandemic emergency isolation: a qualitative study","volume":"10","author":"Xu","year":"2023","journal-title":"Front Public Health"},{"key":"B45","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"153","DOI":"10.3390\/educsci9020153","article-title":"Assistive hearing technology for deaf and hard-of-hearing spoken language learners","volume":"9","author":"Holt","year":"2019","journal-title":"Educ Sci"}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fresc.2024.1491473\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,11]],"date-time":"2024-12-11T02:17:14Z","timestamp":1733883434000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fresc.2024.1491473\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,11]]},"references-count":45,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fresc.2024.1491473"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fresc.2024.1491473","relation":{},"ISSN":["2673-6861"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2673-6861","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2024,12,11]]},"article-number":"1491473"}}