Quality of life among women with noise-induced hearing loss

Abstract

One purpose of this study was to describe coping, disability and handicap, and psychological general wellbeing (quality of life) among women with noise-induced hearing loss. An additional purpose was to explore psychological and audiological factors affecting quality of life in this female group. Three standardised questionnaires were used: the Communication Strategies Scale (CSS), the Hearing Disabilities and Handicap Scale (HDHS) and the Psychological General Well-being Scale (PGWB). Data was consecutively assessed during one year at the hearing clinics on two hospitals in the western part of Sweden. Sixty-five females with hearing loss of sensori-neural type and a history of noise-exposure were included in the study. In a stepwise regression analysis, “interpersonal distress” and “speech perception” (subscales of the HDHS) and “verbal communication strategies” explained 45 percent of the variance (multiple R = 0.67). Interestingly, pure-tone audiometry and difficulties to hear sounds other than speech did not affect quality of life in this female group.