| 1. |
- Granberg, Sarah, 1973-, et al.
(author)
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How to remain in working life with hearing loss : health factors for a sustainable work situation
- 2024
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In: Work. - : IOS Press. - 1051-9815 .- 1875-9270.
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Persons with hearing loss (HL) are a vulnerable group in working life. Studies have shown that they are more likely than the general population to be in part-time work, to be unemployed, receive disability pension, and to be on sick leave. Many workers with HL also experience unhealthy work conditions, such as jobs where they experience high demands combined with low control as well as safety concerns and social isolation. There is a lack of studies that focus on factors that promote a healthy, sustainable work situation for the target group.OBJECTIVE: To investigate health factors that contribute to a sustainable work situation for employees with HL.METHODS: The current study was a comparative, observational study with a cross-sectional design including a clinical population of adults with HL. Comparisons were made between workers with HL "in work" and workers with HL on "HL-related sick leave".RESULTS: Seven health factors were identified. Those "in work" experienced a healthier work environment as well as lower levels of mental strain, hearing-related work characteristics and content, cognitively demanding work content, hearing-related symptoms, energy-demanding activities, and bodily aches and pain than those on "HL-related sick leave".CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate a clear pattern regarding health factors for a sustainable working life. The type of job was not related to whether an individual was on sick leave or working. Rather, the work climate and the content of the work mattered.
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| 2. |
- Karlsson, Elin, 1990-
(author)
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Assessment of everyday functioning for adults with hearing loss : Development of Hearing and Functioning in Everyday life Questionnaire (HFEQ)
- 2022
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Aim: The overall aim of the current thesis was to develop a self-assessmentinstrument with a focus on everyday functioning for adults with hearingloss and to investigate its psychometric properties.Methods: Three different methods were applied in the current studies; a scoping review (Study I), two quantitative studies using two different datacollection processes (Study II and IV) and a qualitative study, including anitem-generation workshop and cognitive group interviews (Study III).Results: The scoping review (Study I) showed that the validation process ofICF Core Sets has varied between studies, including studies that used bothqualitative and quantitative methodology. Most of the validation studieshave been conducted in Western, high-income countries and have only useda single population.The validation of the Brief ICF Core Set for Hearing Loss (Study II) was conducted internationally, including four continents and both middle- and high-income countries. The results demonstrated satisfactory content validity and internal consistency. However, two ICF categories (b126 and d810) arerecommended to be specified if they are used in a future instrument. In study III HFEQ was developed by international experts in the field ofaudiology and/or ICF. The HFEQ was then validated in two studies withfocus on the content validity (Study III) and the construct validity (StudyIV). Altogether, the results showed satisfying levels of content and construct validity for the HFEQ, as well as internal consistency reliability, feasibility and comprehensibility. Minor adjustments such as rewording arerecommended in the future. The results of study II-IV strengthen the hypothesis that everyday functioning seems to be a relevant and valid phenomenon to measure within audiology. Conclusion: ICF Core sets have been validated using several methods. The Brief ICF Core Set for Hearing Loss has satisfactory validity for adults with hearing loss and is a relevant foundation for a new self-assessment instrument. The HFEQ is a valid self-assessment measure for assessing everyday functioning for adults with hearing loss.
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| 3. |
- Karlsson, Elin, 1990-, et al.
(author)
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Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire : Development and Validation of an ICF-Based Instrument
- 2023
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In: Ear and Hearing. - : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - 0196-0202 .- 1538-4667. ; 44:6, s. 1498-1506
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- OBJECTIVES: Self-assessment instruments are commonly used in audiological rehabilitation. However, several studies highlight the lack of multidimensionality in existing outcome measures, with the consequence that they only partially capture aspects of functioning in everyday life for people living with hearing loss. This study aimed to develop and investigate the content validity of a self-assessment instrument based on the validated Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health Core Set for Hearing Loss.DESIGN: The design was a two-part instrument development study. The first part focused on the item-generation process of the instrument, named the Hearing and Functioning in Everyday Life Questionnaire (HFEQ) during an experts' workshop. The second part focused on international content validation of the instrument using group interviews. Strategic sampling was used and 30 adults with hearing loss from India, South Africa, and the United States participated in the group interviews.RESULTS: The expert's workshop resulted in the first version of the HFEQ containing 30 items. The results from group interviews show that the content of the HFEQ was considered to be valid concerning its relevance, comprehensiveness, and comprehensibility. A majority (73%) of the HFEQ items were perceived by the participants as relevant and easy to comprehend. For the remaining 27% of the items, the content was perceived to be relevant in all countries, but some terms and expressions were reported to require rewording or clearer examples. These modifications will be made in the next step of the development process.CONCLUSION: Content validation of the HFEQ demonstrates promising results, with participants perceiving the content as relevant and comprehensible. Further psychometric validation is required to investigate other psychometric properties, such as construct validity and reliability. The HFEQ has the potential to become a valuable new instrument for assessing everyday functioning in people with hearing loss in audiological rehabilitation and in research.
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| 4. |
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| 5. |
- Karlsson, Elin, 1990-, et al.
(author)
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Validation of the Brief International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) core set for hearing loss : an international multicentre study
- 2021
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In: International Journal of Audiology. - : Routledge. - 1499-2027 .- 1708-8186. ; 60:6, s. 412-420
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Hearing loss (HL) affects the everyday functioning of millions of people worldwide. The Brief International Classification of Functioning Disability and Health (ICF) core sets for HL was developed to meet the complex health care needs of adults with HL. Because the brief core set for HL has not yet been validated internationally, this study aimed to investigate its validity from an international perspective. Design: A cross-sectional validation study based on data from structured interviews with adults with HL. Study sample: Participants (n = 571) from India, South Africa, Sweden and the US were included. Results: A six-factor solution explained 71% of the variance, focussing on issues related to communication, the social environment, participation in society, health care services, support, relationships and emotions (α = 0.915). Three ICF categories demonstrated low reliability - temperament and personality functions, seeing functions and school education.Conclusion: The Brief ICF core set for HL is valid for adults with HL internationally. However, to further increase its international validity, we recommend adding the categories d920 recreation and leisure and replacing d850 school education with the more inclusive block, d810-d839 education.
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| 7. |
- Badache, Andreea, 1991-
(author)
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Beyond the Years : Exploring the role of sensory functions and cognitive abilities in shaping the patterns of old age disabilities and successful aging in an aging population in Sweden and Denmark: An epidemiological perspective of disability
- 2023
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- AIMS: This research project aims to review the lay perspectives of older adults 75 and above regarding successful aging, as well as estimate the prevalence of sensory difficulties by different subgroups, explore the role of cognition and sensory function in explaining decreasing disability trends over time in Sweden and Denmark and, lastly, longitudinally examine the sensory-cognitive relation in older adults. METHODS: For Study I, a systematic review was conducted, while for Study II the prevalence of sensory functions was estimated. For Study III, the Karlson Holm Breen method was used, whereas Study IV applied a cross-lagged panel model. RESULTS: This research indicates that younger and older adults have different definitions of successful aging, with themes of life, death, and environmental/system influences being important for those aged 75 and above (Study I). Study II shows that the prevalence of sensory difficulties in old age varies among subgroups, and Study III reveals a decreasing prevalence of disability in Sweden and Denmark, attributed to cognitive function, education, reading ability, and hearing ability. Finally, Study IV highlights a reciprocal relationship between sensory functions and cognition among older adults, with better cognitive function associated with better hearing and vision scores over time. DISCUSSION: This research underlines the need for policymakers to cater to the diverse needs of different generations based on gender differences, environmental factors, and access to healthcare and social services. Study II reveals a higher prevalence of sensory difficulties among certain subgroups, which could be targeted by specific interventions. Study III and IV indicate that preserving good sensory functions may mitigate cognitive decline, with interventions including vision and hearing aids and surgeries potentially delaying cognitive decline.
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| 8. |
- Badache, Andreea C., 1991-, et al.
(author)
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Why Are Old-Age Disabilities Decreasing in Sweden and Denmark? Evidence on the Contribution of Cognition, Education, and Sensory Functions
- 2022
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In: The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1079-5014 .- 1758-5368. ; 78:3, s. 483-495
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: Improvements in educational attainment, cognitive and sensory functions, and a decline in the prevalence of disabilities have been observed in older adults in Sweden and Denmark. In the present study, it was investigated whether better cognition, higher educational attainment, and improved sensory function among older adults aged 60 and older in these countries have contributed to decreasing rates of old-age disabilities.Methods: The analyses were based on repeated cross-sectional data from the Survey of Health, Ageing, and Retirement in Europe for the 2004-2017 period. Descriptive data were used to benchmark the declining prevalence of disabilities, improving cognitive and sensory functions, and increased educational level. The association between time and disabilities was analyzed with logistic regression models, and the contribution of the improved cognitive function, education, and sensory function to the declining prevalence of old-age disabilities was estimated using the Karlson-Holm-Breen method for mediation analysis.Results: The analysis suggests that the declining prevalence of old-age disabilities in Sweden and Denmark between 2004 and 2017 can largely be attributed to improved cognitive function and vision and to a lesser extent by education and hearing ability.Discussion: These findings raise important questions about the causal mechanisms producing the associations between cognition, education, and sensory functions and disability in older age. Future studies should explore the causal nature of the associations between these mediators and old-age disabilities. In addition, they should explore whether these findings differ across regional and cultural contexts and over different time periods.
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| 9. |
- Badache, Andreea, 1991-, et al.
(author)
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Longitudinal associations between sensory and cognitive functioning in adults 60 years or older in Sweden and Denmark
- 2024
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In: Archives of gerontology and geriatrics (Print). - : Elsevier. - 0167-4943 .- 1872-6976. ; 121
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: The objective of this study is to explore the bidirectional, longitudinal associations between self-reported sensory functions (hearing/vision) and cognitive functioning among older adults in Sweden and Denmark during the period 2004-2017.METHODS: The study is based on data from The Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe and consists of 3164 persons aged 60 to 93 years. Within-person associations between sensory and cognitive functions were estimated using random intercept cross-lagged panel models.RESULTS: The results indicated that cognitive and sensory functions were associated within their respective domains over time. The results on the bidirectional associations between sensory functions and cognition over time showed weak and statistically non-significant estimates.CONCLUSION: Our study showed no clear evidence for cross-lagged effects between sensory functions and cognitive functioning. Important to note, however, is that using longitudinal data to estimate change within persons is a demanding statistical test and various factors may have contributed to the absence of conclusive evidence in our study. We discuss several of these factors.
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| 10. |
- Elmazoska, Iris, et al.
(author)
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Associations Between Recreational Noise Exposure and Hearing Function in Adolescents and Young Adults : A Systematic Review
- 2024
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In: Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. - : American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. - 1092-4388 .- 1558-9102. ; 67:2, s. 688-710
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- PURPOSE: There is an increasing concern regarding hazardous recreational noise exposure among adolescents and young adults. Daily exposure to loud sound levels over a long period of time can increase the risk of noise-induced hearing loss. The full extent of the impact of recreational noise on hearing is not yet fully understood. The purpose of this review was to synthesize research that investigated hearing function in relation to recreational noise exposure in adolescents and young adults.METHOD: A systematic literature search of five databases covering the years 2000-2023 was performed. The articles included investigated audiological measurements of hearing function in relation to recreational noise exposure.RESULTS: Four hundred sixty records were identified, of which 20 met the inclusion criteria and were included in the results. This review showed that although some recreational noise activities can be potentially harmful, there is an unclear relationship between exposure and outcome. Some findings indicated hearing threshold shifts or reduced otoacoustic emission amplitudes after recreational noise exposure, but most changes were short term and in the extended high-frequency range.CONCLUSIONS: There seemed to be inconsistencies regarding the utilization of methods of measuring exposure and outcome between studies. This might be one reason for the differing results in studies on the reported impact on hearing function from recreational noise exposure. To draw more certain conclusions about long-term effects, there is a need for longitudinal research that utilizes sound level measurements to assess low and high degrees of recreational noise exposure in relation to hearing function.SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL: https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25114193.
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