Quality of Life of Hearing-Impaired Middle School Students: a Cross-Sectional Study in Hubei Province, China

Abstract

To assess the self-perceived quality of life of in middle school student with hearing impairment and identify the social-demographic and clinical factors those influence their quality of life in Hubei Province, China. A school-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in Hubei Province. Using stratified sampling method, 437 middle school students diagnosed with hearing impairment, aged 12-18 years, in special school setting were enrolled in the study. The Quality of Life Scale for Children and Adolescents (LSCA) was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics at the significance of p < 0.05. The quality of life of participates calculated to be 132.43 ± 15.19, and no significant differences were found in the overwhelming majority subscale and whole scale between students with hearing impairment and their normal hearing peers. Good peer relationships (β = −6.32, p < 0.001) and school performance (β = −3.58, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a better quality of life. Moreover, receiving hearing rehabilitation was also significantly associated with a better quality of life (β = 2.81, p < 0.001). Overall, students with hearing impairment reported similar quality of life to their normal hearing peers. The findings contradicted with the hypothesis that hearing impaired students could have poorer quality of life compared with their normal hearing peers. Promoting peer relationship and school performance may be conducive to the improvement of quality of life in hearing impaired students.