This was a funded project by the National Institute for Health and Care Research to develop an online information and educational resource to support adults living with hyperacusis and provide information on hyperacusis and the self-help strategies that can be used to help manage hyperacusis. We called it internet Self-Help, Understanding and Support for Hyperacusis (ishush).
Development of the ishush website followed a person-based approach. We included evidence from research studies, theories from health psychology, and importantly, throughout the entire development process we incorporated the opinions and experiences of the intended-users.
So, what was involved in our person-based approach?
Essentially, we carried out several studies to build our understandings of the experiences, needs, and challenges of living with hyperacusis, and what was needed to create a digital intervention. These studies involved:
- Reviewing the scientific literature to understand what works and doesn’t work, and what are the different theories we could follow in terms of engaging people to use digital interventions
- Interviews with adults experiencing hyperacusis to learn about their experiences, needs and challenges associated with hyperacusis, and what they do to help themselves
- Interviews with healthcare professionals to understand their perspectives on hyperacusis and the types of treatments they offer
- A survey to learn more about who experience hyperacusis, and to test which questionnaires best measures the impact of hyperacusis
- Interviews to test and finalise the content of the website to ensure it is acceptable, user friendly, helpful, and relevant.
