To investigate the perspectives and experiences of adults with hearing loss (HL), their family members, and hearing care professionals on how they respond to the stigma of HL and hearing aids (HAs). Qualitative descriptive approach using semi-structured interviews. Three participant groups were recruited, including 20 adults over the age of 50 years with HL, 20 family members who had a close relationship to the adults with HL, and 25 hearing care professionals. Three themes described how adults with HL, family members, and hearing care professionals respond to the stigma of HL and HAs, namely: (1) some people tell others about their HL and HAs and some people don't; (2) telling or not telling depends on the situation; and (3) people deal with the stigma of HL and HAs in different ways. This study revealed a range of volitional responses to the stigma of HL and HAs. People affected by HL may not tell others about their HL and/or HAs because of the stigma, and these volitional responses are influenced by situational cues. Adults with HL and family members manage the stigma of HL and HAs in different ways and require a person-centred approach.

Introduction: Newborn hearing screening is essential for early identification of hearing loss to decrease the adverse effects of hearing loss. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and risk factors of congenital hearing loss in newborns. Methods: In this analytical case-control study, a hearing screening test was performed for all newborns aged 3-14 days. Results: Of 5,500 newborns evaluated, 24 newborns had hearing loss. The prevalence of hearing loss was 4.36 per 1,000. Of 24 hearing-impaired newborns, 15 had bilateral hearing loss (BHL) (62.5%) and nine had unilateral hearing loss (UHL) (37.5%). Among the neonates with hearing loss, the prevalence of hearing loss was higher (77.8%) in the right ear. The main risk factors identified in this study were low gestational age (P=0.001), hospitalization in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (P=0.008), exposure to ototoxic drugs (P=0.001), gestational diabetes P=0.01), craniofacial anomalies (P=0.01), convulsion (P=0.03), consanguineous marriage of parents (P=0.001), low birth weight (P=0.01), and hyperbilirubinemia (P=0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of hearing loss was higher in the right ear than in the left ear. NICU stay, use of ototoxic drugs, low gestational age (<35 weeks), gestational diabetes, craniofacial anomalies, convulsion, consanguineous marriage of parents, low birth weight, and hyperbilirubinemia were significant risk factors for congenital hearing loss in studied newborns.

To explore the barriers and facilitators faced by hearing healthcare clinicians (HHCs) with respect to asking adults with hearing loss (HL) about their emotional well-being.This qualitative study w...