Exploring caregiver burdens and resources among parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss

G. Burns-O'Connell; H. Pryce; S. Smith; N. Dauman; J. Dernie

doi:10.1080/14992027.2026.2706376

Exploring caregiver burdens and resources among parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss

G. Burns-O'Connell^*
, H. Pryce
, S. Smith
, N. Dauman
, J. Dernie

^*Corresponding author for this work

Université de Poitiers
Université de Poitiers
IHU reConnect
Aston University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Objective:
Hearing loss is a concern globally which can present challenges for those affected and their communication partners. This study explored the experiences of individuals providing support for people with hearing loss, focusing on caregiver burden.

Design:
Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with communication partners and parental caregivers. Template analysis, guided by Burden of Treatment Theory, explored illness burden (the daily impact of a health condition) and treatment burden (the workload involved in managing care).

Study Sample:
Twenty-seven caregivers of people with hearing loss participated, representing diverse ages and relationship types.

Results:
Analysis focused on two a priori burden domains: illness burden and treatment burden, while recognising resources that could alleviate burdens. Illness burden included assuming the role of mediator, emotional work, and changes in communication. Treatment burden themes encompassed managing medical and audiological care and maintaining hearing devices and assistive technology. Resources identified included sharing knowledge, empathising with the person with hearing loss, and working as a team.

Conclusions:
Caregiving in the context of hearing loss is complex and multifaceted. These findings highlight the potential for targeted resources and support for parents and communication partners to improve experiences of individuals with hearing loss and their supporters.

Original language	English
Number of pages	15
Journal	International Journal of Audiology
Early online date	30 Jul 2026
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/14992027.2026.2706376
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 30 Jul 2026

Bibliographical note

Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.

Keywords

Audiology
family-centered care
hearing loss
illness burden
qualitative
treatment burden

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10.1080/14992027.2026.2706376Licence: CC BY 4.0

Exploring caregiver burdens and resources among parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss
Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.
Final published version, 1.34 MBLicence: CC BY 4.0

Cite this

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title = "Exploring caregiver burdens and resources among parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss",

abstract = "Objective: Hearing loss is a concern globally which can present challenges for those affected and their communication partners. This study explored the experiences of individuals providing support for people with hearing loss, focusing on caregiver burden. Design: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with communication partners and parental caregivers. Template analysis, guided by Burden of Treatment Theory, explored illness burden (the daily impact of a health condition) and treatment burden (the workload involved in managing care). Study Sample: Twenty-seven caregivers of people with hearing loss participated, representing diverse ages and relationship types. Results: Analysis focused on two a priori burden domains: illness burden and treatment burden, while recognising resources that could alleviate burdens. Illness burden included assuming the role of mediator, emotional work, and changes in communication. Treatment burden themes encompassed managing medical and audiological care and maintaining hearing devices and assistive technology. Resources identified included sharing knowledge, empathising with the person with hearing loss, and working as a team. Conclusions: Caregiving in the context of hearing loss is complex and multifaceted. These findings highlight the potential for targeted resources and support for parents and communication partners to improve experiences of individuals with hearing loss and their supporters. ",

keywords = "Audiology, family-centered care, hearing loss, illness burden, qualitative, treatment burden",

author = "G. Burns-O'Connell and H. Pryce and S. Smith and N. Dauman and J. Dernie",

note = "Copyright {\textcopyright} 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor \& Francis Group on behalf of British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.",

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language = "English",

journal = "International Journal of Audiology",

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AU - Burns-O'Connell, G.

AU - Pryce, H.

AU - Smith, S.

AU - Dauman, N.

AU - Dernie, J.

N1 - Copyright © 2026 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group on behalf of British Society of Audiology, International Society of Audiology, and Nordic Audiological Society. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The terms on which this article has been published allow the posting of the Accepted Manuscript in a repository by the author(s) or with their consent.

PY - 2026/7/30

Y1 - 2026/7/30

N2 - Objective: Hearing loss is a concern globally which can present challenges for those affected and their communication partners. This study explored the experiences of individuals providing support for people with hearing loss, focusing on caregiver burden. Design: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with communication partners and parental caregivers. Template analysis, guided by Burden of Treatment Theory, explored illness burden (the daily impact of a health condition) and treatment burden (the workload involved in managing care). Study Sample: Twenty-seven caregivers of people with hearing loss participated, representing diverse ages and relationship types. Results: Analysis focused on two a priori burden domains: illness burden and treatment burden, while recognising resources that could alleviate burdens. Illness burden included assuming the role of mediator, emotional work, and changes in communication. Treatment burden themes encompassed managing medical and audiological care and maintaining hearing devices and assistive technology. Resources identified included sharing knowledge, empathising with the person with hearing loss, and working as a team. Conclusions: Caregiving in the context of hearing loss is complex and multifaceted. These findings highlight the potential for targeted resources and support for parents and communication partners to improve experiences of individuals with hearing loss and their supporters.

AB - Objective: Hearing loss is a concern globally which can present challenges for those affected and their communication partners. This study explored the experiences of individuals providing support for people with hearing loss, focusing on caregiver burden. Design: Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with communication partners and parental caregivers. Template analysis, guided by Burden of Treatment Theory, explored illness burden (the daily impact of a health condition) and treatment burden (the workload involved in managing care). Study Sample: Twenty-seven caregivers of people with hearing loss participated, representing diverse ages and relationship types. Results: Analysis focused on two a priori burden domains: illness burden and treatment burden, while recognising resources that could alleviate burdens. Illness burden included assuming the role of mediator, emotional work, and changes in communication. Treatment burden themes encompassed managing medical and audiological care and maintaining hearing devices and assistive technology. Resources identified included sharing knowledge, empathising with the person with hearing loss, and working as a team. Conclusions: Caregiving in the context of hearing loss is complex and multifaceted. These findings highlight the potential for targeted resources and support for parents and communication partners to improve experiences of individuals with hearing loss and their supporters.

KW - Audiology

KW - family-centered care

KW - hearing loss

KW - illness burden

KW - qualitative

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DO - 10.1080/14992027.2026.2706376

M3 - Article

SN - 1499-2027

JO - International Journal of Audiology

JF - International Journal of Audiology

ER -

Exploring caregiver burdens and resources among parents and communication partners of people with hearing loss

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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