Understanding Hearing Loss and Barriers to Hearing Health Care Among Korean American Older Adults: A Focus Group Study-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

Understanding Hearing Loss and Barriers to Hearing Health Care Among Korean American Older Adults: A Focus Group Study

Published:2016-08-22 Issue:11 Volume:37 Page:1344-1367
ISSN:0733-4648
Container-title:Journal of Applied Gerontology
language:en
Short-container-title:J Appl Gerontol

Author:

Choi Janet S.¹,Shim Kyoo S.²,Kim Kunhwa²,Nieman Carrie L.³⁴,Mamo Sara K.⁴,Lin Frank R.³⁴⁵,Han Hae-Ra⁶

Affiliation:

1. Department of Otolaryngology,Head & Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA

2. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

3. Departments of Otolaryngology,Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

4. Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

5. Departments of Geriatric Medicine, Mental Health and Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

6. Department of Community-Public Health, School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA

Abstract

Hearing loss is associated with an accelerated decline in social, cognitive, and physical functioning among older adults. However, little is known about its impact and barriers to hearing health care in any ethnic minorities. The aim of this study was to explore experiences related to hearing loss and barriers to hearing health care among older Korean Americans (KAs). We conducted four focus groups with 19 older KAs with hearing loss and four communication partners. Qualitative content analysis revealed four themes: (a) impact of hearing loss, (b) self-perception of hearing loss, (c) coping strategies for hearing loss, and (d) barriers to hearing health care (price, language, lack of collaborative communications, perceptions about hearing aids, and lack of knowledge). Older KAs were significantly impacted by hearing loss but tended not to seek care due to multiple factors. Culturally tailored hearing interventions are urgently needed to promote hearing health in the KA community.

Funder

National Institutes of Health

the Eleanor Schwartz Charitable Foundation

a Triological Society/American College of Surgeons Clinician Scientist Award

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Subject

Geriatrics and Gerontology,Gerontology

Link

http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/0733464816663554

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1. Effects of hearing aids on cognitive functions and depressive signs in elderly people