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AIM: The aim of this study was to elucidate factors related to the high
rate of mental health disorders seen in those with impaired hearing,
including social factors and audiological measures.



METHOD: A representative sample of 95 pupils (47 females, 48 males; mean
age 11y 1mo, range 6y 5mo to 16y, SD 2y 7mo) with hearing impairments of
at least 40dB and normal non-verbal intelligence (IQ 97.5, SD 19.5), was
assessed audiologically and with a structured clinical interview giving
both current and lifetime diagnoses, and the Strengths and Difficulties
Questionnaire. Detailed social information was gathered from parents and
teachers.



RESULTS: Point and lifetime prevalence rates for any psychiatric
disorder (32.6%; 45.3%) and depression (7.4%; 26.3%) were higher than in
general population samples and not related to the degree of hearing
loss. There was a relation between having a lifetime diagnosis and the
child's ability to be understood within the family (25.6% vs 7.7%, odds
ratio 4.12 [1.2-14.1], p=0.02). Internalizing mental health disorders
were between three and six times more likely in those who had been
teased, maltreated by classmates, or isolated.



INTERPRETATION: We conclude that the increased risk of depression in
those who have been teased, isolated, or maltreated is not peculiar to
deafness, but the ability to make oneself understood is, and is modestly
related (r=0.22-0.34) to the probability of these adverse experiences.





Dev Med Child Neurol. 2009 Aug;51(8):635-41.

Correlates of mental health disorders among children with hearing
impairments.Fellinger J, Holzinger D, Sattel H, Laucht M, Goldberg D.

Health Centre for the Deaf, Hospital of St. John of God, Linz, Austria.
Johannes.Fellinger@...





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