Exploring current practice, knowledge, and training needs for managing psychosocial concerns in the audiology setting: Perspectives of audiologists, audiology reception staff, and managers

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the current practices and training requirements for supporting clients experiencing psychosocial concerns in the audiology setting, from the perspectives of audiology clinicians, managers, and reception staff. Method: Convenience sampling was used to recruit audiologists, reception staff, and clinic managers (N = 13, M_age = 32.2 ± 8.1, range: 25–47 years, 11 female) through a large hearing services provider in Western Australia. A semistructured focus group was used to elicit participant views regarding current experiences relating to clients who express psychosocial concerns in the audiology setting, familiarity with psychosocial interventions, and training requirements for delivery of psychosocial interventions in the audiological setting. Results: Twenty-four subthemes were identified across six themes: (1) awareness of psychosocial well-being, (2) the role of others, (3) identifying client’s psychosocial needs, (4) managing client’s psychosocial needs, (5) barriers to providing psychosocial support, and (6) broadening audiological services to include psychosocial support. Conclusions: Participants reported an awareness of their clients’ psychosocial challenges within the audiology setting, yet they described uncertainty in how best to respond in providing support and whether this was within their scope of practice. A majority of audiology staff expressed desire and motivation to broaden the scope of their service in order to better address their clients’ hearing loss–related psychosocial needs.