Date Presented 04/04/2025
Quality of life, instrumental activity of daily living performance, and gender influence hearing handicap in deaf and hard-of-hearing adults. A holistic, individualized approach is crucial for effectively supporting this population.
Primary Author and Speaker: Juliana Bell
Additional Authors and Speakers: Blair Carsone
PURPOSE: OTPs view clients holistically and often encounter clients with hearing difficulties. This study aimed to determine if self-perceived quality of life, IADL performance, and gender interacted to influence perceived hearing handicap in deaf and hard-of-hearing adults.
DESIGN: A quantitative research design was employed. Participants included were adults aged 18–64 who were proficient in English and had any degree of hearing loss, recruited through convenience sampling and social media.
METHOD: Data were collected using three instruments: the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA), the Assessment of Quality of Life – 8 Dimensions (AQoL-8D), and the Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale. Participants self-reported their data via an electronic survey on Google Forms. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS Version 29.
RESULT: A total of 633 participants (n = 633) completed the survey. A three-way ANOVA showed a significant interaction between AQoL-8D scores, Lawton IADL scores, and gender (Sum of Squares = 17501.456, df = 38, Mean Square = 460.565, F = 1.960, Sig. = .001). This indicated that these factors interact in complex ways to influence hearing handicap.
CONCLUSION: Significant interactions between QoL, IADL performance, and gender suggest that OTPs should adopt a comprehensive, individualized approach. OTPs should understand the multifaceted nature of hearing handicap and how QoL, IADL performance, and gender influence hearing handicap to inform clinical practice and allow for implementation of personalized approaches to enhance clients’ overall quality of life.
IMPACT STATEMENT: OTPs should include QoL and IADL assessments and consider gender differences when working with clients with hearing impairments to ensure a comprehensive approach for best outcomes. Further research is needed to explore these interactions and develop more effective interventions to enhance the well-being of clients.
References
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