Youth with hearing loss: Emotional and behavioral problems and quality of life. (June 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Overgaard, Kristin Romvig; Oerbeck, Beate; Wagner, Karine; Friis, Svein; Øhre, Beate; Zeiner, Pål
• Is Part Of: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology. Volume 145(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-06
• Subjects: Deaf -- Hard of hearing -- Child -- Adolescent -- Strengths and difficulties questionnaire -- Inventory of life quality in children and adolescents; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Otolaryngology -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; Oto-rhino-laryngologie -- Périodiques; Pédiatrie -- Périodiques; 618.9209751
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110718
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0165-5876

Abstract

Abstract: Objectives: To compare parent- and self-reported emotional and behavioral problems and quality of life (QoL) among youth with hearing loss (HL) to norms, and to investigate possible associations between emotional and behavioral problems and QoL among youth with HL. Methods: We used the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and the Inventory of Life Quality in Children and Adolescents (ILC) to measure emotional and behavioral problems and QoL in youth with HL (n = 317, ages 6–18), where 78% had bilateral HL, 22% unilateral HL, 16% had cochlear implants, and 59% conventional hearing aids. Results: The youth with HL had significantly more parent-reported (but not self-reported) emotional and behavioral problems and poorer parent- and self-reported QoL than hearing youth. SDQ and ILC total scores were significantly correlated (−0.47 to −0.63). Conclusion Emotional and behavioral problems and poor QoL appear closely related in youth with HL, suggesting that attending to these problems may improve QoL. Highlights: Youth with hearing loss have more emotional and behavioral problems than hearing. Youth with hearing loss have poorer life quality than hearing youth. Poorer life quality among youth with bilateral than unilateral hearing loss. Emotional and behavioral problems and poor quality of life are interrelated. Attend to emotional/behavioral problems to improve life quality when hearing loss.