Youth with hearing loss: Emotional and behavioral problems and quality of life

Abstract

ObjectivesTo compare parent- and self-reported emotional and behavioral problems and quality of life (QoL) among youth with hearing loss (HL) to norms, and to investigate possible associations between emotional and behavioral problems and QoL among youth with HL. MethodsWe used the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and the Inventory of Life Quality in Children and Adolescents (ILC) to measure emotional and behavioral problems and QoL in youth with HL (n = 317, ages 6–18), where 78% had bilateral HL, 22% unilateral HL, 16% had cochlear implants, and 59% conventional hearing aids. ResultsThe youth with HL had significantly more parent-reported (but not self-reported) emotional and behavioral problems and poorer parent- and self-reported QoL than hearing youth. SDQ and ILC total scores were significantly correlated (−0.47 to −0.63). Conclusion Emotional and behavioral problems and poor QoL appear closely related in youth with HL, suggesting that attending to these problems may improve QoL.