Abstract
The study investigated the mental health and other characteristics of people with acquired profound hearing loss (APHL) and contrasted this group with acquired hearing loss (AHL) in general. A survey was completed over the internet by 95 adults and by 27 people who had attended a one-week course of rehabilitation. The latter group completed questionnaires of anxiety and depression, post-traumatic stress, and hearing handicap. The survey covered a wide range of factors associated with the history of hearing loss and evaluated previous contacts with professional services. The data from the two samples were very similar and were combined. The results indicated the existence of sudden and progressive onset groups, reliance on lip-reading, a severe effect of tinnitus, and some support for the conclusion that the psychosocial impact was greater in APHL than in AHL. A subgroup of APHL was severely distressed and handicapped. Respondents valued medical and audiological services but there was little evidence that previous counselling and support had been helpful. Recommendations for rehabilitation are briefly discussed.
Acronyms | ||
APHL | = | Acquired profound hearing loss |
AHL | = | Acquired hearing loss |
HADS | = | Hospital anxiety and depression scale |
GHSI | = | Glasgow health status inventory |
LASC | = | Los Angeles symptom checklist |
PTSD | = | Post-traumatic stress disorder |
SI | = | Second informant |
Acronyms | ||
APHL | = | Acquired profound hearing loss |
AHL | = | Acquired hearing loss |
HADS | = | Hospital anxiety and depression scale |
GHSI | = | Glasgow health status inventory |
LASC | = | Los Angeles symptom checklist |
PTSD | = | Post-traumatic stress disorder |
SI | = | Second informant |
Sumario
El estudio investigó la salud mental y otras características de personas con hipoacusias profundas adquiridas (APHL) y lo contrastó con hipoacusias adquiridas (AHL) en general. Se completó una encuesta por internet en 95 adultos y 27 personas que habían asistido a un curso de rehabilitación de una semana. Este último grupo completó cuestionarios de ansiedad y depresión, de tensión post-traumática y de impedimento auditivo. La encuesta cubrió un amplio rango de factores asociados con la historia de pérdida auditiva y evaluó contactos previos con servicios profesionales. Los datos de las dos muestras fueron similares y se combinaron. Los resultados indicaron la existencia de grupos de inicio súbito y progresivo, dependencia de la labio-lectura, un efecto severo del acúfeno, y alguna evidencia para concluir que el impacto psico-social era mayor en la APHL que en la AHL. Un subgrupo de APHL se encontró severamente perturbado y en desventaja. Los encuestados valoraron los servicios médicos y audiológicos, pero existió poca evidencia de que el apoyo y la asesoría previa hubieran sido de valor. Se discuten brevemente recomendaciones para rehabilitación.