Third Party Disability with regard to hearing loss

Due to social withdrawal and alteration in communication behaviour hearing loss does not only have an enormous impact on the patient himself, but also on their significant others (SO). Altough social support is essential for a successful hearing rehabilitation, this so called third party disability has not sufficiently been taken into consideration with regard to hearing loss so far.

20 bilaterally profoundly hearing impaired and their SO were studied concerning their feeling of strain using the SOS- HEAR (Significant Other Scale for Hearing Disability) prior and after cochlear implantation in a prospective longitudinal study. Along with that general and health related quality of life was evaluated (Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire) as well as stress (Perceived Stress Questionnaire), coping stragies (Brief COPE) and socioeconomic factors. Additionally pure ton audiometric evaluation of the SO between 500 and 8000 Hz was done.

The factors influencing third party disability prior and during hearing rehabilitation such as gender, age, SO hearing abilities, coping strategies and socieconomic factors of the patient as well as for the significant other were analysed.

These findings may help to better provide optimal psychosocial support for the significant others and thereby to enhance the success of hearing rehabilitaion for the patients themselves.

Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
18. April 2018 (online)