The project investigates how a partner鈥檚 hearing difficulties affect the everyday lives of communication partners who themselves do not have hearing impairment. Particular attention is given to the occurrence and extent of third-party disability, a concept describing how one person鈥檚 health condition or disability may also affect those close to them. The project explores the communication partner鈥檚 perspective, including changes in communication within the relationship and in participation in social activities. We also examine whether the partner鈥檚 use of hearing aids is associated with the communication partner鈥檚 experiences.
Data collection has been completed
Data collection for the project is now complete and includes both a survey and in-depth interviews with communication partners of people with hearing impairment. The data are being analysed and will form the basis of several scientific publications.
Initial analyses have yielded intriguing preliminary findings and raised new questions about how hearing impairment may affect interactions within a close relationship. The project is preparing its first manuscript.
When both partners experience hearing difficulties
The next stage of the project will examine these relationships when the communication partner also has hearing difficulties. This will allow us to explore whether and how the communication partner鈥檚 hearing is associated with experiences of communication, social participation, and third-party disability.
Through this research, we aim to contribute to a broader understanding of hearing impairment as something that may affect not only the individual but also interactions and everyday life within a close relationship. In the longer term, this knowledge may inform the development of hearing rehabilitation approaches that recognise and address the communication partner's perspective.
