Hearing loss is a concern globally which can present challenges for those affected and their communication partners. This study explored the experiences of individuals providing support for people with hearing loss, focusing on caregiver burden.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists should consider screening family members and communication partners for caregiver burden and proactively signpost available support resources, as this qualitative evidence highlights a largely unaddressed gap in hearing healthcare.
Recognising and addressing caregiver burden in the communication partners of people with hearing loss could improve rehabilitation outcomes and represents an underserved area of audiological care.
- 01Qualitative study design exploring lived experiences of caregivers of people with hearing loss.
- 02Participants included both parents and adult communication partners, broadening scope beyond typical patient-focused research.
- 03Caregivers reported notable emotional, communicative, and practical burdens.
- 04Existing support resources were perceived as insufficient or difficult to access.
- 05Published in International Journal of Audiology.
Parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss experience significant caregiver burden.
studysupportedResources available to caregivers of people with hearing loss are inadequate or underutilised.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42532970
- DOI
- 10.1080/14992027.2026.2706376.
- Journal
- International Journal of Audiology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss
- Intervention
- Qualitative exploration of caregiver burdens and available support resources
Primary outcomes
Nature and extent of caregiver burdens experienced; Types of resources accessed or sought by caregivers