Third-Party Disability in Spouses of Older People With Hearing Impairment

Abstract

Hearing impairment is the most common communication disability in older people. The wide-ranging impact of hearing impairment means that not only does the person with hearing impairment experience the consequences, but his or her frequent communication partners do also. In this article, the authors discuss the impact of hearing impairment in older people on spouses with normal hearing using the conceptualization of “third-party disability” created by members of the World Health Organization (WHO, 2001, p. 251). Results of a series of studies conducted by the authors demonstrate that spouses experience a range of activity limitations and participation restrictions due to their partner’s hearing impairment, including a variety of stresses involving lifestyle changes, communication difficulties, and emotional consequences. In this article, the authors highlight the important role of family-centered intervention in audiologic rehabilitation for older adults and emphasize the need to increase inclusion of spouses and significant others in the rehabilitation process.