IMPACT OF GENDER AND DEGREE OF HEARING LOSS ON SELF ESTEEM IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

Background: Hearing impairment is considered as one of the major contributor of drop in low self-esteem of adolescents. Children and adolescents with significant hearing loss have difficulties like communication and social skills in different aspects of their quality of life which later on lead to anxiety, depression and social isolation. Objective: To find out the impact of gender and degree of hearing loss in children and adolescents not using hearing aid. Methodology: A cross sectional survey was conducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Total participants were 551 selected between 9-15 years age , with mild and moderate degree of hearing loss with no history of using hearing aid. The Rosenberg self-esteem scale was used to measure the self-esteem level. The data was analysed through multiple linear regression testing SPSS version 21. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 12.38±1.773 year. The degree of hearing loss and the gender were statistically significant predictor {F (df) =157.636(2,548), p<0.001, r2 = .365} of the self-esteem in hearing impaired children. Hence, the age was not significant predictor on the self-esteem (β=.367, p=.228) Conclusion: The self-esteem in the children and adolescents with hearing impairment was affected by gender and degree of hearing loss. Whereas age have no impact on the self-esteem. Keywords: Adolescent, children, Hearing impairment, hearing loss, self-esteem.