Quality of life among women with noise‐induced hearing loss

One purpose of this study was to describe coping, disability and handicap, and psychological general wellbeing (quality of life) among women with noise‐induced hearing loss. An additional purpose was to explore psychological and audiological factors affecting quality of life in this female group. Three standardised questionnaires were used: the Communication Strategies Scale (CSS), the Hearing Disabilities and Handicap Scale (HDHS) and the Psychological General Well‐being Scale (PGWB). Data was consecutively assessed during one year at the hearing clinics on two hospitals in the western part of Sweden. Sixty‐five females with hearing loss of sensori‐neural type and a history of noise‐exposure were included in the study. In a stepwise regression analysis, “interpersonal distress” and “speech perception” (subscales of the HDHS) and “verbal communication strategies” explained 45 percent of the variance (multiple R = 0.67). Interestingly, pure‐tone audiometry and difficulties to hear sounds other than speech did not affect quality of life in this female group.