International classification of functioning, disability, and health core sets for hearing loss: A discussion paper and invitation

Abstract

Abstract

The World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has adopted a multifactorial understanding of functioning and disability, merging a biomedical paradigm with a social paradigm into a wider understanding of human functioning. Altogether there are more than 1400 ICF-categories describing different aspects of human functioning and there is a need to developing short lists of ICF categories to facilitate use of the classification scheme in clinical practice. To our knowledge, there is currently no such standard measuring instrument to facilitate a common validated way of assessing the effects of hearing loss on the lives of adults. The aim of the project is the development of an internationally accepted, evidence-based, reliable, comprehensive and valid ICF Core Sets for Hearing Loss. The processes involved in this project are described in detail and the authors invite stakeholders, clinical experts and persons with hearing loss to actively participate in the development process.

Sumario

La Clasificación sobre Funcionalidad, Discapacidad y Salud de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (ICF) ha adoptado un acercamiento multifactorial de la funcionalidad y la discapacidad, fusionando un paradigma biomédico con un paradigma social de una forma más amplia. En su conjunto hay más de 1400 categorías ICF que describen diferentes aspectos de la funcionalidad humana y existe la necesidad de desarrollar una lista corta de categorías ICF para facilitar el uso de la clasificación en un esquema para la práctica clínica. Es de nuestro conocimiento que actualmente no existe un instrumento de medición estándar que facilite una forma válida y cómoda para evaluar los efectos de la hipoacusia en la vida de los adultos. El propósito de este proyecto es desarrollar un conjunto básico de condiciones de salud ICF para la hipoacusia que sea internacionalmente aceptado, basado en evidencia, confiable e integral. Se describen en detalle los procesos implicados en este proyecto y los autores invitan a las personas interesadas, a los expertos clínicos y a las personas con hipoacusia a participar activamente en el desarrollo de este proceso.

Key Words:

• Activity
• audiology
• deafness
• hearing loss
• hearing impairment
• ICF
• ICF core sets
• participation

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge The Nordic Audiological Society (NAS) for initiating the project to develop ICF Core Sets for Hearing Loss and NAS and Oticon Foundation for their financial support.

Notes

1. With hearing loss the authors strictly refer to hearing loss per se. Other aspects of hearing impairment, such as tinnitus and hyperacusis are not considered within the work described in this paper. However, since hearing loss often coexists with other problems like tinnitus or functional limitations we do not exclude such cases as long as hearing loss is the primary condition affecting the individual.

2. A member from the Eastern Mediterranean Region is under recruitment.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.