Severe to profound hearing impairment: quality of life, psychosocial consequences and audiological rehabilitation.

PURPOSE: To study the quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial consequences in terms of sick leave and audiological rehabilitation given to patients with severe to profound hearing impairment. METHOD: A retrospective study of data on 2319 patients with severe to profound hearing impairment in The Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology, followed by a posted questionnaire including The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: The results indicate greater levels of anxiety and depression among patients with severe or profound hearing impairment than in the general population, and annoying tinnitus and vertigo had strong negative effects on QoL. The proportion of sick leave differed between the studied dimensions in the study. The proportion of patients who received extended audiological rehabilitation was 38% in the present study. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment focused on anxiety, depression, tinnitus and vertigo must be given early in the rehabilitation process in patients with severe or profound hearing impairment. Because sick leave differs greatly within this group of patients, collaboration with the regional Social Insurance Agency is crucial part of the rehabilitation. The study also shows that presently, only a small proportion of patients in Sweden with severe to profound hearing impairment receive extended audiological rehabilitation. Implications for Rehabilitation Greater levels of anxiety and depression have been found among patients with severe or profound hearing impairment than in the general population, and annoying tinnitus and vertigo have strong negative effects on QoL in this group of patients. Only a small proportion of patients with severe to profound hearing impairment receive extended audiological rehabilitation today, including medical, technical and psychosocial efforts. Extended audiological rehabilitation focused on anxiety, depression, tinnitus and vertigo must be given, together with technical rehabilitation, early in the rehabilitation process in patients with severe or profound hearing impairment.

The ICF core sets for hearing loss project: functioning and disability from the patient perspective.

OBJECTIVE: To explore areas of functioning, disability, and environmental factors of adults with hearing loss (HL) by using the ICF classification as a tool to determine and document each element. DESIGN: A qualitative study applying mainly focus-group methodology was applied. STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty-six Dutch and South African adults (≥ 18 years of age) with HL (20-95 dB HL) who used oral communication as first communication. Summative content analysis was performed on the transcripts by linkage to appropriate ICF categories. RESULTS: 143 ICF categories were identified, most of which belonged to the Activities & Participation (d) component, closely followed by the Environmental factors component. Participants specifically mentioned categories related to oral communication and interaction. Assistive technology (such as hearing aids), noise, and support by and attitudes of others in the environment of the participants were considered highly influential for functioning and disability. CONCLUSIONS: The present study illustrates the complex and encompassing nature of aspects involved in functioning and disability of adults with HL. Findings highlight the necessity of using a multidimensional tool, such as the ICF, to map functioning and disability with hearing loss, allowing consideration and evaluation of aspects that are both internal and external.