Hearing impairment, work and vocational enablement

Authors: Krupa, T
Year Published 2008
Publication International Journal of Audiology
Volume 47
Number 2
Pages S124-S130
Publisher Informa Healthcare
Background

Employment is considered one of the major life areas. An increasing number of individuals with hearing loss are seeking help with occupational problems and need individualized employment supports.

Purpose

This paper describes a recently developed vocational enablement protocol (VEP) addressing the specific needs of those with hearing loss in the workforce.

Setting

The setting was an Audiological Center in a University Medical Center, in Amsterdam.

Sample

The study sample include 86 patients with hearing loss aged 19-64 years.

Data Collection

Data from the VEP was collected and discussed in a board multidisciplinary team.

Control

There was no control or comparison condition.

Findings

Recommendations were made by the multidisciplinary team in the following areas: hearing aid (re)fitting, communication training, environmental modifications, psychosocial counseling, assistive listening devices, re-delegation of assignments, restructuring of time schedules, further medical examination, occupations retraining, hearing protection.

Conclusions

This program may be regarded as a step forward in the management of people with hearing loss who experience problems as work, but there is still room for improvement. There is no scientific evidence available for the effectiveness and efficiency of the recommendations proposed.

URL http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19012121
Disabilities Hearing impairments
Populations Male & Female
Outcomes Other
NIDILRR Funded No
Research Design Qualitative
Peer Reviewed Yes