This study aimed to investigate the impact of hearing impairment on the quality of life of Australian older people. Relationships between (a) hearing impairment and hearing disability/handicap, (b) hearing impairment and health-related quality of life, and (c) hearing disability/handicap and health-related quality of life were examined. Ninety-three community-based subjects were assessed using pure-tone audiometry as a measure of impairment. A disease-specific questionnaire, the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE), provided a measure of hearing disability/handicap. A generic questionnaire, the Short-Form 36 (SF-36), provided a measure of health-related quality of life. Results indicated a moderately significant relationship between hearing impairment and hearing disability/handicap. In particular, individuals reported the disabling, rather than the handicapping effects of hearing impairment on the HHIE. A significant relationship was also found between hearing impairment and the mental health subscale of the SF-36. Finally, significant relationships were demonstrated between hearing disability/handicap and three quality of life domains on the SF-36: mental health, bodily pain, and physical functioning. All relationships existed independently of age. The findings are interpreted in relation to practical implications for the health care of older persons.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Morgan et al. (2002) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: