| Summary: | Purpose: The aim of this research was to develop and
evaluate methods to address poor knowledge of hearing
aids, hearing loss, and communication in patients, partners,
and nonaudiologic health and social care professionals.
Method: An interactive multimedia educational program
(C2Hear) has been co-produced with hearing aid users
and audiologists to provide high-quality information and
demonstrate complex concepts relating to hearing aids
and communication.
Results: A randomized controlled trial showed numerous
benefits for first-time hearing aid users that included better
knowledge and skill, and increased hearing aid use and
satisfaction. Patients reported that C2Hear was highly useful,
enjoyable, and preferable to written information. C2Hear
Online is now freely available on YouTube and has global
reach, well in excess of 150,000 views. Further developments
include a version for communication partners, which
showed that joint-working between hearing aid users and
their communication partners resulted in joint responsibility
for communication that facilitated communication behaviors.
In addition, a behavior theory-driven version for use with
mobile technologies (m2Hear) has been designed to be
tailored to the needs of individual hearing aid users. m2Hear
includes more activities/interaction to maximize user
engagement and learning. Finally, C2Hear has been used
to improve hearing-related knowledge in other health and
social care professionals, such as carehome assistants.
Conclusion: This range of educational programs and tools
aims to improve knowledge and skills, leading to better
outcomes for patients, partners, and health care professionals.
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