Hearing impairment, work and vocational enablement
Authors: | Krupa, T |
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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 |