Chapter 1 14 sounds may result in difficulties with speech understanding during conversations with one or more persons, and the reduced ability to locate sounds may make it difficult to hear cars coming when walking through traffic. Other activities that may be affected by hearing loss are the usage of telecommunication devices and communication strategies, interactions with family or strangers, or interactions in formal relationships. Granberg (2015) investigated everyday activities that are most commonly affected in adults with hearing loss. Her research was performed within the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, disability, and health (ICF). This framework has been introduced in 2001 and allows to examine medical, individual, social, and environmental influences on functioning and disability (World Health Organization, 2001). The research of Granberg (2015) resulted in the development of the ICF core set for hearing loss, including the areas of functioning that are most relevant to describe in adults with hearing loss. The ICF core set for hearing loss is a general framework that can be used to describe the functioning of adults with hearing loss. As stated, formal relationships are a relevant area to describe in this population (Granberg, 2015). More specifically, hearing loss may affect the performance of auditory job tasks. These tasks include speech understanding and detecting, recognizing, and locating sounds (Dreschler & Boermans, 1997; Soli, Giguère, et al., 2018; Tufts et al., 2009). Also, many individuals with hearing loss, tinnitus, or hyperacusis are being hindered by environmental noise at the workplace (World Health Organization, 2011). It is estimated that hearing loss results in difficulties with performing auditory tasks in approximately three percent of the Dutch work force (Sorgdrager, 2015). This percentage is likely to increase, as the society is ageing and the retirement age is being raised. Participation Hearing lossmay affect several aspects of participation in life situations, includingquality of life, communication, interaction with significant others, and work participation (Granberg, 2015; Granberg et al., 2014; Punch et al., 2019). The ICF core set for hearing loss also includes a description of the areas of participation that are relevant for describing the functioning of adults with hearing loss (Granberg, 2015). These areas include private situations with family and friends, such as socializing, community life, sports, arts, culture, religion, and spirituality. Furthermore, work is acknowledged as an important area of participation that is often affected in adults with hearing loss.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTk4NDMw