Supporting living well with hearing loss: A Delphi review of self-management support.

Objectives: To assess consensus amongst stakeholders in adult auditory rehabilitation on what processes might support self-management.

Design: A three-round Delphi review was conducted online. Participants responded to five questions relating to living well with a hearing loss and the clinical processes that might support living well. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis. In further rounds, statements arising from the analysis were scored using a nine-point Likert scale, independently and then in the light of the collated panel responses. Statements reaching pre-defined criteria for consensus were identified.

Study Sample: A panel of 26 stakeholders in adult auditory rehabilitation were consulted, including people with hearing loss and researchers and professionals who design and implement process change.

Results: There was consensus on clinical skills and behaviours that might help individuals live well, including processes that inform and involve the individual with the hearing loss (e.g. providing information about hearing and collaborative goal setting, respectively). The panel identified potential emotional, cognitive, and behavioural markers for living well with a hearing loss.

Conclusions: The results of this review provide a rationale for the development and evaluation of interventions that include collaborative clinical behaviours as part of self-management support.