Severe-to-profound hearing impairment: demographic data, gender differences and benefits of audiological rehabilitation. Issue 23 (6th November 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Turunen-Taheri, Satu; Carlsson, Per-Inge; Johnson, Ann-Christin; Hellström, Sten
• Is Part Of: Disability and rehabilitation. Volume 41:Issue 23(2019)
• Page Start: 2766
• Page End: 2774
• Publication Date: 2019-11-06
• Subjects: Swedish quality register -- EuroQoL-5D-3L -- hearing loss -- hearing aids -- cochlear implants -- gender; People with disabilities -- Periodicals; Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; 617.03
• DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1477208
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0963-8288

Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify and report demographic data of patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss, assess participation in audiological rehabilitation and analyze the benefits of various rehabilitation methods. Materials and methods: Data on 4286 patients with severe-to-profound hearing impairments registered in the Swedish Quality Register of Otorhinolaryngology over a period from 2006–2015 were studied. Demographic data, gender differences, audiological rehabilitation and benefits of the rehabilitation were analyzed. Results: Group rehabilitation and visits to a hearing rehabilitation educator provided the most benefits in audiological rehabilitation. Only 40.5% of the patients received extended audiological rehabilitation, of which 54.5% were women. A total of 9.5% of patients participated in group rehabilitation, with 59.5% being women. Women also visited technicians, welfare officers, hearing rehabilitation educators, psychologists and physicians and received communication rehabilitation in a group and fit with cochlea implants significantly more often than did men. Conclusions: The study emphasizes the importance of being given the opportunity to participate in group rehabilitation and meet a hearing rehabilitation educator to experience the benefits of hearing rehabilitation. There is a need to offer extended audiological rehabilitation, especially in terms of gender differences, to provide the same impact for women and men. Implications for Rehabilitation: Significantly more women than men with severe-to-profound hearing impairment receive audiological rehabilitation. Hearing impairment appears to have a significantly more negative impact on women's quality of life than men's. It is important to offer extended audiological rehabilitation to all patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss to obtain an equal hearing health care regardless of gender.