Third Party Disability in Spouses of Elderly Persons with Different Degrees of Hearing Loss

Abstract

This study is aimed to compare the measures of third party disability in spouses of elderly persons with different degrees of hearing loss using the Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability (SOS-HEAR) and to obtain feedback from the participants about the items on the scale to identify culture-specific items with special reference to Indian context. Participants were fifty-seven spouses whose elderly partners had moderate, moderately severe or severe hearing loss. All spouses passed a pure tone screening at 40 dBHL across 0.5 to 4 kHz in each ear, with no significant cognitive deficits found on the Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMT). Spouses self-administered or answered an interview for administration of the 27-item SOS-HEAR scale, consisting of six sub-scales. Scores of third party disability for the three hearing loss groups were compared for each sub-scale using the Kruskal-Wallis test, with Mann-Whitney U for post-hoc analysis. Suggestions were obtained from participants about the items on the scale. Statistically significant differences in the scores of third party disability were obtained across all sub-scales of SOS-HEAR between spouses of elderly persons with moderate and severe hearing loss. Significant differences were also found on sub-scales of communication changes and emotional reactions to adaptations between scores of spouses of elderly persons with moderate and moderately severe hearing loss. Feedback obtained from participants about specific items on the scale are reported. The extent of third party disability in spouses of elderly persons with hearing loss is influenced by the degree of hearing loss in the person. Communication burden increases and more changes in communication are warranted with an increase in hearing loss from moderate to severe degree. Relationship changes, going out and socializing, concern for partner, and emotional reactions to the adaptations necessary for dealing with a partner with hearing loss are influenced by the degree of hearing loss in the partner.