To take part in this research, please confirm that you agree to the following: 1. I confirm that I have read the information sheet for this study in the section before this and I have had the opportunity to consider the information and ask questions.
1 = Agree
14 = Disagree

2. I understand that my participation is voluntary and that I am free to withdraw at any time without giving any reason, without my medical care or legal rights being affected.
1 = Agree
2 = Disagree

You are eligible to take part in this study if you are seeking help for your hearing loss and/or experiencing hearing loss, currently living in the UK and aged 16 years and over. Do you have hearing loss?
10 = Yes
11 = No

Are you aged 16 years or over?
3 = Yes
4 = No

Which country in the UK do you currently live?
1 = England
2 = Northern Ireland
3 = Scotland
4 = Wales

The next questions are about what it is like to live with hearing loss and how it affects your life. Please select the option which is most accurate when thinking your experiences over the last 7 days. - I feel confident telling people when I haven’t heard them
1 = Never
2 = Rarely
3 = Sometimes
4 = Most of the time
5 = Always

The next questions ask about how your hearing affects communication. Please indicate which opinion best describes your experience by clicking in ONE box for each statement. - The members of my family are annoyed with my loss of hearing.
1 = Strongly disagree
2 = Slightly disagree
3 = Neither
4 = Slightly agree
5 = Strongly agree

The next few questions relate to knowing what options are available for your hearing. Please select the response that best describes how you feel. - Do you know which options are available to you for your hearing?
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Unsure

The next few questions will help us to understand how familiar people are with using and reading health information. Please select the option which is most accurate when thinking about your experiences. - How often do you have problems learning about your medical condition because of difficulty understanding written information?
1 = Never
2 = Occasionally
3 = Sometimes
4 = Often
5 = Always

HLSb - How confident are you filling out medical forms by yourself?
1 = Extremely
2 = Quite a bit
3 = Somewhat
4 = A little bit
5 = Not at all

1 = I have no problems in walking about
2 = I have slight problems in walking about
3 = I have moderate problems in walking about
4 = I have severe problems in walking about
5 = I am unable to walk about

Self-care (e.g. washing or dressing)
1 = I have no problems with washing or dressing myself
2 = I have slight problems with washing or dressing myself</spanb
3 = I have moderate problems with washing or dressing myself
4 = I have severe problems with washing or dressing myself
5 = I am unable to wash or dress myself

Usual activities (e.g. work, study, housework, family or leisure activities)
1 = I have no problems doing my usual activities
2 = I have slight problems doing my usual activities
3 = I have moderate problems doing my usual activities
4 = I have severe problems doing my usual activities
5 = I am unable to do my usual activities

Pain/discomfort
1 = I have no pain or discomfort
2 = I have slight pain or discomfort
3 = I have moderate pain or discomfort
4 = I have severe pain or discomfort
5 = I have extreme pain or discomfort

Anxiety/depression
1 = I am not anxious or depressed
2 = I am slightly anxious or depressed
3 = I am moderately anxious or depressed
4 = I am severely anxious or depressed
5 = I am extremely anxious or depressed

The questions in this section will ask you about loneliness. How often do you feel lonely?
1 = Often/always
2 = Some of the time
3 = Occasionally
4 = Hardly ever
5 = Never

Please select the option which applies most to you. - How often do you feel that you lack companionship
1 = Hardly ever or never
2 = Some of the time
3 = Often

1 = I am able to feel settled and secure in all areas of my life
2 = I am able to feel settled and secure in many areas of my life
3 = I am able to feel settled and secure in a few areas of my life
4 = I am unable to feel settled and secure in any areas of my life

Love, friendship and support
1 = I can have a lot of love, friendship and support
2 = I can have quite a lot of love, friendship and support
3 = I can have a little love, friendship and support
4 = I cannot have any love, friendship and support

Being independent
1 = I am able to be completely independent
2 = I am able to be independent in many things
3 = I am able to be independent in a few things
4 = I am unable to be at all independent

Achievement and progress
1 = I can achieve and progress in all aspects of my life
2 = I can achieve and progress in many aspects of my life
3 = I can achieve and progress in a few aspects of my life
4 = I cannot achieve and progress in any aspects of my life

Enjoyment and pleasure
1 = I can have a lot of enjoyment and pleasure
2 = I can have quite a lot of enjoyment and pleasure
3 = I can have a little enjoyment and pleasure
4 = I cannot have any enjoyment and pleasure

You are now at the last section of the questionnaire which asks questions about yourself and your hearing. This should take you about 5 minutes to fill in Do you have hearing loss in one or both ears?
1 = One
2 = Both
3 = Prefer not to say

1 = Yes – I wear them at least some of the time
2 = Yes – I have been given them but do not wear them
3 = No – I have not been given them
4 = Prefer not to say

1 = Yes, write which device in the box
2 = No
3 = Prefer not to say

When have you had hearing loss since?
1 = Birth
2 = Childhood
3 = Adolescence
4 = Adulthood
5 = Unsure
6 = Prefer not to say

Do you have tinnitus?
1 = Yes
2 = No
3 = Prefer not to say

1 = Write your age in the box
2 = Prefer not to say

What is your ethnic group? - Selected Choice
1 = White (English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish or British, Irish, Gypsy or Traveller, Roma)
2 = Any other White background, write in
3 = Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups (White and Black Caribbean, White and Black African, White and Asian)
4 = Any other Mixed or Multiple background, write in
5 = Asian or Asian British (Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Chinese)
6 = Any other Asian background, write in
7 = Black, Black British, Caribbean or African
8 = Any other Black, Black British, African background or Caribbean background, write in
9 = Other ethnic group
10 = Any other ethnic group (including Arab), write in
11 = Prefer not to say

What is your sex?
1 = Male
2 = Female
3 = Prefer not to say

Is the gender you identify with the same as your sex registered at birth? - Selected Choice
1 = Yes
2 = No, please state your gender identity
3 = Prefer not to say

What are the first 4 digits of your postcode? (e.g. BS10 or BS6 7. If there is a space, please include it in the correct place). - Selected Choice The first 4 digits of my postcode are...(please state below)
1 = The first 4 digits of my postcode are...(please state below)

What are the first 4 digits of your postcode? (e.g. BS10 or BS6 7. If there is a space, please include it in the correct place). - Selected Choice Prefer not to say
1 = Prefer not to say

What are the first 4 digits of your postcode? (e.g. BS10 or BS6 7. If there is a space, please include it in the correct place). - Selected Choice Don't know
1 = Don't know

What is your highest educational qualification?
1 = School level (GCSE’s, O levels, CSEs)
2 = College level (A levels, AS levels, Highers, Advanced Highers, National Diploma, NVQ level 3, BTEC National, OND, ONC, City and Guilds Advanced Craft, NVQ level 2, BTEC General, City and Guilds Craft NVQ level 1)
3 = University level (Bachelor's degree, Master’s degree, Doctoral degree, nursing)
4 = No qualifications
5 = Prefer not to say

Which of the following describes what you were doing over the last 7 days? - Selected Choice
1 = Retired
2 = Working
3 = Studying
4 = Unemployed/ job seeking
5 = Looking after home or family
6 = Long term sick or disabled
7 = Other
8 = Prefer not to say

Did you complete this questionnaire on your own? - Selected Choice
1 = No. Please state who helped you
2 = Yes
3 = Prefer not to say

1 = adequate health literacy
2 = limited health literacy