This article evaluates the impact of hearing loss and its rehabilitation on the quality of life (QoL) of adults. The authors suggest that the currently used scale, Aphab, is long, complicated and does not take into account minor changes. The authors evaluated another self-administered questionnaire (“Evaluation du retentissement de la surdite chez l’adulte ERSA”). It is subdivided into four domains of five questions each graded from 1-10: quality of life; personal life; social life and professional life. Two groups of patients were tested,122 patients were evaluated for possible cochlear implantation and 90 cochlear implant patients. The first group filled out the Ersa and Aphab questionnaires and the second group filled in the GBI as well. The study demonstrated a reliable internal coherence and a stable test-retest performance. There was no correlation between the Aphab and the Esra scores demonstrating their different structures. The Esra score was completed by 95% of patients while only two-thirds could complete the Aphab score reliably. Its main advantage is that it takes into consideration auditory performance in difficult hearing situations which impact patients’ daily QoL. The authors conclude that this tool can be beneficial in the evaluation of implanted patients and in evaluating any variations brought about by any additional changes such as contralateral implantation, change of processor or reimplantation.
Hearing loss and QOL
Reviewed by Badr Eldin Mostafa
Evaluation du retentissement de la surdite chez l’adulte: validation d’un questionnaire de qualite de vie.
CONTRIBUTOR
Badr Eldin Mostafa
Ain-Shams Faculty of Medicine, Almaza , Heliopolis, Egypt.
View Full Profile
