C Pachaiappan¹*, Cherukuri Ramya Sri², Sarah Zahir³, Victor Rexton L⁴, Prithi H⁵ and Krithika C⁵

¹Assisstant Professor, Department of Audiology, MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (P) Ltd, India
²Clinical Supervisor, Department of Audiology, MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (P) Ltd, India
³Postgraduate (II Year), Department of Audiology, MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (P) Ltd, India
⁴Undergraduate, Department of Audiology, MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (P) Ltd, India
⁵Undergraduate (III Year), Department of Audiology, MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (P) Ltd, India

*Corresponding Author: Pachaiappan C, Assisstant Professor, Department of Audiology, MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing (P) Ltd, India.

Received: May 12, 2025; Published: June 09, 2025

Abstract

Importance: This study investigates factors that influence conversation success for adults with cochlear implants (CI) and hearing impairment (IH), focusing on both individual and group conversational contexts. Understanding these factors can inform strategies to enhance communication outcomes.

Methods: A Group Concept Mapping (GCM) approach was used with 20 participants aged 50–75 years who have experience using CI or IH aids. Participants generated statements about what makes a conversation successful, sorted them into conceptually similar groups, and rated their importance. Multidimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were applied to produce a conceptual framework.

Results: Seven thematic clusters were identified: (1) Being able to listen easily, (2) Being spoken to in a helpful way, (3) Being engaged and accepted, (4) Sharing information as desired, (5) Perceiving flowing and balanced interaction, (6) Feeling positive emotions, and (7) Not having to engage coping mechanisms. Ratings indicated that these factors were viewed as more critical in group conversations than in 1-to-1 settings, with CI users particularly highlighting the difficulties of group interactions.

Outcomes: The study's outcomes provide a structured understanding of what makes conversations successful from the perspective of adults with hearing loss. These insights can guide the development of targeted communication training, inform best practices for conversational partners, and shape clinical interventions aimed at improving social participation and quality of life for CI and IH users.

Conclusions: The findings underscore the multifaceted nature of conversation success, pointing to the need for both technological solutions and communication partner strategies to foster effective and satisfying conversations for adults with hearing loss.

Keywords: Tinnitus Handicap Inventory; Reliability; Cultural Translation

References

Citation

Citation: C Pachaiappan., et al. “Understanding Conversational Success in Hearing Loss: A Group Mapping Study ".Acta Scientific Otolaryngology 7.7 (2025): 08-14.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 C Pachaiappan., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.