Communicative participation with public authorities: Experiences of people with aphasia, people who stutter, and employees of public authorities.

INTRODUCTION: Several studies have examined the communicative participation of people with communication disorders (PWCD). Hindering and facilitating factors were analyzed in different population groups considering various private and public communication contexts. However, knowledge about (a) the experiences of persons with different communication disorders, (b) communication with public authorities, and (c) the perspective of communication partners in this area remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the communicative participation of PWCD with public authorities. We analyzed communicative experiences (hindering and facilitating factors) and suggestions for improving communicative access described by persons with aphasia (PWA) and persons who stutter (PWS) as well as by employees of public authorities (EPA). METHODS: In semi-structured interviews, PWA (n = 8), PWS (n = 9), and EPA (n = 11) reported specific communicative encounters with public authorities. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis, focusing on hindering/facilitating experiences and suggestions for improvement. RESULTS: The personal experiences of the participants during authority encounters were represented by the interwoven themes of familiarity and awareness, attitudes and behavior, and support and autonomy. The perspectives of the three groups overlap in several areas; however, the results also indicate specific differences between PWA and PWS as well as between PWCD and EPA. CONCLUSION: The results indicate a need to improve awareness/knowledge about communication disorders and communicative behavior in EPA. Moreover, PWCD should actively engage in encounters with authorities. In both groups, awareness must be raised about how each communication partner can contribute to successful communication, and avenues to achieve this goal must be demonstrated.

Results from high-frequency hearing screening in 14- to 15-year old adolescents and their relation to self-reported exposure to loud music.

OBJECTIVE: Data from high-frequency hearing screening in adolescent students were analysed to investigate whether practices of listening to loud music are reflected in the hearing status of young people. DESIGN: Students were screened for their hearing at frequencies 2, 4, and 6 kHz and at a level of 20 dB HL. Failure of the screening was defined by missing at least one frequency in one ear. In addition to hearing screening, the students filled out a questionnaire asking for practices related to exposure to loud music. STUDY SAMPLE: 1296 adolescents aged 14 to 15 years. RESULTS: The overall rate of failing the hearing screening was 14.9% (95% CI: 13.0%-16.8%). The rate was similar in adolescents with no, little, or moderate exposure to loud music (10% to 15%), but significantly increased (22% to 25%) in adolescents with high exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The observed failing rate compares well to findings on the prevalence of hearing deficits in adolescents reported in other studies. In addition, our study suggests that the risk for hearing damage from loud music is not steadily increasing with increase of exposure, but exists only under conditions of extreme listening.