Personality Changes Associated with Surgically Corrected Hypoacusis

Abstract

Serving as subjects for the study were 34 hard-of-hearing adult patients with otosclerosis and to whom normal hearing was restored after a stapes operations. As measured by pre and post-operative scores on the Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey, it was concluded: (1) that individuals with a hearing loss due to otosclerosis manifest certain negative qualities on selected traits in their personality profiles, and (2) that they become significantly more positive once normal hearing is reestablished (p≦0.05, one-tail).

Key Words:

• Ear surgery
• Otosclerosis
• Personality testing