Strength Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) Profile of Children with Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Purpose: The increasing number of hospital visits by children with sensorineural deafness needs attention. Apart from causing functional communication disruption, it is also initiating a psychopathological stressor that triggers mental health disorders such as emotional, depression, lack of self-confidence, and behavioral problems, which overall impact the quality of life of children in Indonesia’s future. The aim of this study is to identify emotional and behavioral problems in sensorineural deaf children using the Strength Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Methods: This study used a descriptive observational research design. The subjects of this study were children with sensorineural deafness who visited the pediatric hearing center in Jala Puspa clinic, in Naval Hospital Dr. Ramelan Surabaya, in January 2021. The data was collected using the Strength Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) questionnaire. The data were analyzed descriptively. Results: The respondents in this study were 50 sensorineural deaf children consisting of 27 boys and 23 girls. The results show that both children with sensorineural deafness who used a hearing aid or cochlear implants had a natural tendency to have emotional and behavioral problems, indicated by the difficulty subscale score. Borderline degrees of 20 (91%) children using hearing aid and 15 (54%) in children using cochlear implants (CI), on the power subscale indicated 11 (50%) in children using hearing aid and 9 (32 %) in children taking CI. Conclusion: Both sensorineural deaf children using hearing aids and cochlear implants tend to have emotional and behavioral problems.