The impact of owning a hearing dog on quality of life, hearing handicap, and social functioning: an Australian cohort

Abstract

Objective

To determine the impact of owning a hearing dog on self-reported hearing handicap, quality of life (QoL), and social functioning.

Design

Group comparison study design, utilising five surveys (General Information Survey, Hearing Information Survey, Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly/Adults, Medical Outcomes Survey, and Social Functioning Questionnaire).

Study sample

23 respondents from the 2019 Australian Lions Hearing Dog waitlist (controls) and 58 respondents from all clients who had received a hearing dog through the Australian Lions Hearing Dog service (cases).

Results

No significant difference was found in Hearing Handicap Inventory or Social Functioning Questionnaire scores between the groups, although there was a tendency for improvement with dog ownership. The owner group scored significantly lower than the waitlist group on three Medical Outcomes Survey sub-items (general health, physical functioning, and role limitations due to physical health), along with total health-related QoL. These results contrasted with the broad emotional and psychosocial benefits identified through thematic analysis of responses.

Conclusions

It is feasible, yet not certain, that owning a hearing dog may bring a reduction in hearing handicap, as well as emotional and social benefits to the QoL of individuals, but it also appears to be associated with poorer perception of health.

Keywords:

• Hearing dogs
• assistance dogs
• quality of life
• hearing handicap
• social functioning
• emotional wellbeing

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Australian Lions Hearing Dogs and CEO Mr. David Horne for their support with this study. We also are grateful to the participants for taking the time to share their insights.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).