Quality of life in persons with hearing loss: a study of patients referred to an audiological service

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship between hearing loss (HL) and general quality of life (QoL) in adults seeking hearing aids (HAs).Design: The patients completed the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire’s general part and a questionnaire measuring self-assessed communication ability (Abbreviated Profile of hearing Aid Benefit—APHAB). These responses were compared with EORTC scores from a general population and patients with former head and neck cancer.Study sample: One-hundred and fifty-eight adults with HL were recruited prior to hearing aid (HA) fitting with one half seeking renewal of their HA.Results: General QoL scores among patients with HL were similar to those in the general population, but higher than in many chronic serious diseases. Patients with unilateral HL reported slightly worse social function and more fatigue than patients with bilateral HL. Self-assessed communication ability correlated with general QoL scores. Also, we found that best ear pure tone average (PTA), cognitive and physical QoL function predicted APHAB scores.Conclusion: In the investigated HL group, general QoL scores seem to be relatively close to those seen in the general population.