Understanding the nature and function of positive experiences in living with auditory disablement

Patricia Kerr; Dafydd Stephens

doi:10.1080/15017410009510750

Research

Understanding the nature and function of positive experiences in living with auditory disablement

Authors:

Patricia Kerr ,

About Patricia

Patricia Catherine Ken, CPsychol, Ph.D, is Lecturer in health psychology and research methods at Queen Margaret University College, Edinburgh.

Dafydd Stephens

About Dafydd

Dafydd Stephens is Professor and Director of the Welsh Hearing Institute with audiological rehabilitation as his main research interest.

Abstract

The aims of this study were threefold; to generate a variable pool describing positive experiences associated with hearing disability; to determine if ability to identify positive experiences associates with specific demographic and audiological characteristics; to establish whether there are differences between the positive experiences cited in terms of perceived “helpfulness” in living with auditory disablement. A convenience sample of 207 audiological rehabilitation patients completed an open‐ended questionnaire and a visual analogue scale. 40% of respondents listed one or more positive experiences. Ability to identify positive experiences associated with age (t = 4.98; p < 0.001, occupational group (X² = 6,42; p < 0.02) and previous use of a hearing aid (X² = 9.7; p,0.002). An analysis of respondents’ positive comments generated five core themes ‐ Positive audiological experiences, Self enhancement, Environmental Factors which improve social participation, Positive outcomes and outlooks and Positive social participation. An analysis of “helpfulness” ratings using the visual analogue scale found no difference between the most common positive experiences cited.

How to Cite: Kerr, P. and Stephens, D., 2009. Understanding the nature and function of positive experiences in living with auditory disablement. Scandinavian Journal of Disability Research, 2(1), pp.21–38. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1080/15017410009510750

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Citations

Published on 08 Jul 2009

Peer Reviewed

CC BY 4.0

References

Affleck , G , Tennen , H , Croog , S and Levine , S (1987). . . Causal attribution, perceived benefits and morbidity after a heart attack. . J Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 55((1)): : 29.–.
Badley , EM (1987). . . The ICIDH: format, application in diffferent settings and distinction between Disability and handicap: a ctitique of papers on the application of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. . International Disability Studies , 9: : 122.–.
Barcham , L and Stephens , SDG (1980). . . The use of an open eded problems questionnaire in audiological rehabilitation. . Br. J. Audiology , 14: : 49.–.
Buunk , B (1997). . . Health, Coping and Well‐being: perspectives from social comparison theory. , [city: Mahwah], [state: NJ]: : Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc.. .
Cella , D and Tross , S. (1986). . Psychological adjustment to survival from Hodgkin's disease. . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 54((5)): : 616.–.
Collins , R , Taylor , S and Skokan , L (1990). . . A better world or a shattered vision? Changes in life a perspectives following victimization. . Social Cognition , 8: : 262.–.
Folkman , S , Moskowitz , J , Ozer , E and Park , C (1997a). . . “Positive meaningful events and coping in the context of HIV/AIDs. ”. In Coping with chronic stress. , Edited by: Gottlieb , B . Plenum Press. .
Folkman , S (1997b). . . Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress. . Soc. Sci. & Medicine, , 45: : 1207.–.
Hyland , M and Sodergren , S. (). Development of the activity checklist as a measure of life richness. . Proceedings of the Conference of the European Health Psychology Bordeaux. .
Johnston , M. (1997). . “Representations of disability. ”. In Perceptions of illness. , Edited by: Petrie , K and Weinman , J . : 189.–. [city: Amsterdam]: : Harwood Academic. .
Kerr , P and Stephens , D (1997). . . The use of an open‐ended questionnaire to identify positive aspects of acquired hearing loss. . Audiology , 35: : 19.–.
Kerr , P and Cowie , R. (1997). . Acquired hearing loss: a multi‐dimensional experience. . British Journal of Audiology , 31: : 177.–.
Kerr , P and Stephens , D (). . The application of the ICIDH‐2 in audiological rehabilitation. . Proceedings:A stakeholders Conference, Queen Mary and Westfield College London. . pp.: 62.–. NHS Information Authority. .
LaFortune , Fredette S. . (1995). . Breast cancer survivors: concerns and coping. . Cancer Nursing , 18((1)): : 35.–.
Noble , W (1998). . . Self Assessment of Hearing and Related Functions. , [city: London]: : Whurr Publishers Ltd. .
Peters , D. (1996). . Disablement observed, addressed and experienced: integrating subjective experience into disablement models. . Disability and Rehabilitation , 18((12)): : 593.–.
Ryff , C (1989). . . In the eye of the beholder: views of psychological well‐being among middle aged and older adults. . Psychology and Aging , 4((2)): : 195.–.
Salmon , P , Manzi , F and Valori , R. (1996). . The meaning of life with incurable cancer. . European Journal of Cancer , 32a((5)): : 755.–.
Sodergren , S (). . Qualitative phase in the development of the silver liningquestionnaire. . Int. Soc. of Quality of Life Conference. .
Sodergren , S and Hyland , M. (). “What are the positive consequences of illnes?. ”. Unpublished manuscript.
Stephens , SDG Jaworkski (1998). . . The use of patient specific estimates in patient evaluation and rehabilitation. . Scandinavian Audiology , 27((Supp 149)): : 61.–.
Stephens , SDG (1997). . . “Audiological Rehabilitation. ”. In Scott Brown's Otolaryngology . , 6th Ed , Edited by: Stephens , D . Vol 2, : 13, 1,–. 36.[city: Oxford]: : Butterworth‐Heinman. .
Stephens , SDG and Hetu , R (1991). . . Impairment, disability and handicap in Audiology. . Audiology , 30: : 185.–.
Stewart‐Kerr , P (1992). . . “The experience of acquired hearing loss: a psychological perspective. ”. Queen's University Belfast. . Unpublished PhD thesis.
Streiner , D and Norman , G. (1995). . Health Measurement Scales. , [city: Oxford]: : Oxford Medical Publications. .
Weinberg , N and Williams , N. (1978). . How physically disabled people perceive their disabilities. . Journal of Rehabilitation , 44: : 31.–.
World Health Organisation (1998). . . International Classification of Impairments, Activities and Participation, , A manual of dimensions of disablement and functioning[city: Geneva]:
Zautra , A , Reich , J and Guamaccia , C (1990). . . Some everyday life consequences of disability and bereavement for older adults. . J. Personality and Social Psychology , 59((3)): : 550.–.

[CIT0001] Affleck , G , Tennen , H , Croog , S and Levine , S (1987). . . Causal attribution, perceived benefits and morbidity after a heart attack. . J Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 55((1)): : 29.–.

[CIT0002] Badley , EM (1987). . . The ICIDH: format, application in diffferent settings and distinction between Disability and handicap: a ctitique of papers on the application of the International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps. . International Disability Studies , 9: : 122.–.

[CIT0003] Barcham , L and Stephens , SDG (1980). . . The use of an open eded problems questionnaire in audiological rehabilitation. . Br. J. Audiology , 14: : 49.–.

[CIT0004] Buunk , B (1997). . . Health, Coping and Well‐being: perspectives from social comparison theory. , [city: Mahwah], [state: NJ]: : Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc.. .

[CIT0005] Cella , D and Tross , S. (1986). . Psychological adjustment to survival from Hodgkin's disease. . Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology , 54((5)): : 616.–.

[CIT0006] Collins , R , Taylor , S and Skokan , L (1990). . . A better world or a shattered vision? Changes in life a perspectives following victimization. . Social Cognition , 8: : 262.–.

[CIT0007] Folkman , S , Moskowitz , J , Ozer , E and Park , C (1997a). . . “Positive meaningful events and coping in the context of HIV/AIDs. ”. In Coping with chronic stress. , Edited by: Gottlieb , B . Plenum Press. .

[CIT0008] Folkman , S (1997b). . . Positive psychological states and coping with severe stress. . Soc. Sci. & Medicine, , 45: : 1207.–.

[CIT0009] Hyland , M and Sodergren , S. (). Development of the activity checklist as a measure of life richness. . Proceedings of the Conference of the European Health Psychology Bordeaux. .

[CIT0010] Johnston , M. (1997). . “Representations of disability. ”. In Perceptions of illness. , Edited by: Petrie , K and Weinman , J . : 189.–. [city: Amsterdam]: : Harwood Academic. .

[CIT0011] Kerr , P and Stephens , D (1997). . . The use of an open‐ended questionnaire to identify positive aspects of acquired hearing loss. . Audiology , 35: : 19.–.

[CIT0012] Kerr , P and Cowie , R. (1997). . Acquired hearing loss: a multi‐dimensional experience. . British Journal of Audiology , 31: : 177.–.

[CIT0013] Kerr , P and Stephens , D (). . The application of the ICIDH‐2 in audiological rehabilitation. . Proceedings:A stakeholders Conference, Queen Mary and Westfield College London. . pp.: 62.–. NHS Information Authority. .

[CIT0014] LaFortune , Fredette S. . (1995). . Breast cancer survivors: concerns and coping. . Cancer Nursing , 18((1)): : 35.–.

[CIT0015] Noble , W (1998). . . Self Assessment of Hearing and Related Functions. , [city: London]: : Whurr Publishers Ltd. .

[CIT0016] Peters , D. (1996). . Disablement observed, addressed and experienced: integrating subjective experience into disablement models. . Disability and Rehabilitation , 18((12)): : 593.–.

[CIT0017] Ryff , C (1989). . . In the eye of the beholder: views of psychological well‐being among middle aged and older adults. . Psychology and Aging , 4((2)): : 195.–.

[CIT0018] Salmon , P , Manzi , F and Valori , R. (1996). . The meaning of life with incurable cancer. . European Journal of Cancer , 32a((5)): : 755.–.

[CIT0019] Sodergren , S (). . Qualitative phase in the development of the silver liningquestionnaire. . Int. Soc. of Quality of Life Conference. .

[CIT0020] Sodergren , S and Hyland , M. (). “What are the positive consequences of illnes?. ”. Unpublished manuscript.

[CIT0021] Stephens , SDG Jaworkski (1998). . . The use of patient specific estimates in patient evaluation and rehabilitation. . Scandinavian Audiology , 27((Supp 149)): : 61.–.

[CIT0022] Stephens , SDG (1997). . . “Audiological Rehabilitation. ”. In Scott Brown's Otolaryngology . , 6th Ed , Edited by: Stephens , D . Vol 2, : 13, 1,–. 36.[city: Oxford]: : Butterworth‐Heinman. .

[CIT0023] Stephens , SDG and Hetu , R (1991). . . Impairment, disability and handicap in Audiology. . Audiology , 30: : 185.–.

[CIT0024] Stewart‐Kerr , P (1992). . . “The experience of acquired hearing loss: a psychological perspective. ”. Queen's University Belfast. . Unpublished PhD thesis.

[CIT0025] Streiner , D and Norman , G. (1995). . Health Measurement Scales. , [city: Oxford]: : Oxford Medical Publications. .

[CIT0026] Weinberg , N and Williams , N. (1978). . How physically disabled people perceive their disabilities. . Journal of Rehabilitation , 44: : 31.–.

[CIT0027] World Health Organisation (1998). . . International Classification of Impairments, Activities and Participation, , A manual of dimensions of disablement and functioning[city: Geneva]:

[CIT0028] Zautra , A , Reich , J and Guamaccia , C (1990). . . Some everyday life consequences of disability and bereavement for older adults. . J. Personality and Social Psychology , 59((3)): : 550.–.

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Research

Understanding the nature and function of positive experiences in living with auditory disablement

Authors:

Patricia Kerr ,

About Patricia

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Dafydd Stephens

About Dafydd

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Abstract

References