Language and quality of life in Swedish children with mild hearing loss

• This study explored the impact of mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (MBHL) on language development and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and investigated the relationship between these outcomes in school-aged children. Participants comprised 16 children (9 girls, 7 boys) between 9-12 years (mean 11.2 years) with MBHL born in Sweden. Language was assessed by a Speech Pathologist and children self-reported their HRQoL. Results showed mean scores for language and HRQoL were not significantly different to normative means. Two children (12.5%) met the criterion for language disorder (LD) and another two children were considered at risk for poor HRQoL. The participants scored poorest on the language skills of formulating of sentences and following concepts and directions, and on the HRQoL domain of psychosocial wellbeing, although none significantly below normative means. A trend in the data showed a moderate positive correlation between overall language ability and HRQoL scores. Participant demographic factors of sex and hours of hearing aid use explained 15% of the variation in HRQoL outcomes; however, this was not statistically significant (p = .65). The hours of hearing aid use accounted for 27.5% of the variance in outcomes for language which was significant (p = .05). Overall, these results indicate that some children with MBHL are at risk of LD and poor HRQoL as they progress through school.

Ämnesord

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP  -- Ekonomi och näringsliv (hsv//swe)

SOCIAL SCIENCES  -- Economics and Business (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Language development

hard of hearing

mental health

outcomes

adolescents

impairment

health

amplification

perceptions

childhood

parents

speech

impact

Education & Educational Research

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)