DID YOU KNOW....





In this study, an assessment was made of the global assumption that
working adults with a mild to moderate sensorineural hearing loss
experience more negative emotional reactions and socio-situational
limitations than subjects with no hearing problems and that a
deterioration of health-related quality of life on these specific
domains would occur.



Comparisons between 73 hearing-impaired subjects and 96 controls,
well-matched for socio-demographic variables, were performed using the
HHIA, MOS 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and SFQ
questionnaires scores and revealed that the former experience a higher
level of perceived hearing handicap and a deterioration of
health-related quality of life while investigating emotional and
socio-situational domains than the latter (p < 0.005).



While investigating the psychological distress dimension of the
hearing-impaired subjects by means of the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R),
it emerged that they are more prone to depression, anxiety,
interpersonal sensitivity, and hostility than subjects with no hearing
problems (p < 0.05).



It is argued that the sensory impairment, with its associated
disability, may discourage hearing-impaired individuals from exposing
themselves to socially challenging situations, producing isolation that
leads to depression, irritability, feelings of inferiority.



The same psychological symptoms, on the other hand, can compound and
worsen the picture by influencing social behaviour of the affected
persons. Further prospective studies are needed to address this issue.



Nevertheless, it is concluded that Audiology Services, despite the time
and costs involved, should improve their diagnostic ability by exploring
more areas of hearing-impaired subjects concerns in order not to
overlook their potentially reduced psychosocial well-being.



Psychological profile and social behaviour of working adults with mild
or moderate hearing loss.

Monzani D, Galeazzi GM, Genovese E, Marrara A, Martini A.

Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2008 Apr;28(2):61-6



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