الفهرس 
INTRODUCTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Hearing is one of the major senses and like vision is important for distant warning
and communications which are one of the fundamental aspects of human life. Loss of
ability to communicate effectively can have negative effects on quality of life, especially if
this impairment is not adequately managed.
The aim of the current study was to validate the study instrument; Hearing Handicap
Inventory for Adults (HHIA), Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
(MSPSS), and Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), to assess the Quality of Life (QoL) among
adults with hearing impairment, to explore predictors of the Quality of Life, and to
investigate the life satisfaction among adults with hearing impairment.
To fulfill this aim, a cross sectional study was conducted on a sample of 205 adults
with hearing impairment attending the Audio-Vestibular Medicine Unite, Faculty of
Medicine, Alexandria University during 2017.
Data collection was done using a pre-structured interview questionnaire concerning;
personal characteristics, hearing impairment profile, family history, daily activities,
occupation status, assessment of HHIA, assessment of MSPSS, and assessment of PWI.
The collected data was fed to the computer using SPSS version 16 software for
tabulation and analysis. Testing normal distribution, descriptive statistics were calculated
which include: minimum, maximum, Median, mean, standard deviation, interquartile range,
univariate statistical analysis for comparison of quantitative data and detecting the relation
between quantitative variables were done using the suitable statistical analysis, and
multiple regression analysis; as two models were adopted to detect the most predicators of
Quality of Life (QoL), and life satisfaction.
The results of the present study revealed the following:
Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) was done for the measurement scales and
was considered adequate (.817 for HHIA, .716 for MSPSS, and .75 for PWI). Validity was
performed using two techniques; principle component analysis (PCA) (table 3,6,9), and
construct validity (discriminate validity) (table 10,11,12).
Descriptive statistics:
The study sample include 205 adults with bilateral hearing impairment. We revealed
that the mean age of adults was 42.33 ± 14.58 ranged from 18-65, 60.5% were female, and
69.8% were married. Almost half of adults (46.3%) were illiterate, 63% were not working,
and 52.2% had income less than 1000 L.E.
Concerning the characteristic of hearing impairment (based on the better ear PTA),
36.6% had mild hearing loss, 32.7% demonstrated moderate loss, 17.6% showed moderate
severe loss, and 13.2% had severe hearing loss. On the other hand, 54.1% had symmetric
hearing impairment, 42.9% had hearing impairment during last 10 years, and 77.6% didn’t
use hearing aide
As regards daily activity, 72.7% could use mobile, 86.3% couldn’t use computer,
75.6% could shop independently, 75.1% could use public transportation independently,
and 79% could manage financial matters independently.
Regarding occupation status, 48.3% of working adults with hearing impairment
could work well despite their impairment, 67.3% didn’t hide their disability from
colleagues, 46.7% didn’t feel any pressure at work, and 55% enjoy going to work.
The following variables was statistically significant in univariate analysis according to
hearing handicapping (HHIA):
Occupation, income, severity of hearing impairment, symmetry of hearing
impairment, duration of hearing loss, ability to use mobile, shopping independently,
independent use of transportation, ability to handle finance, and social support of friend
(p<.05).
The following variables was statistically significant in univariate analysis according to
overall satisfaction (PWI):
Sex, occupation, income, symmetric of hearing impairment, duration of hearing loss,
shopping; independently use of transportation, ability to handle finance, components of
social support (MSPSS), and components of hearing handicapping (HHIA) (p<.05).
Multivariate regression analysis:
According to stepwise hierarchical linear regression analysis, the variables that
showed to be significant predictors of hearing handicapping were; percentage of
impairment (b=.21, p=.000), social support of friend (b=-.693, P=.002), ability to use
mobile (b= -3.369, p = .029), and shopping independently (b= -4.24, p=.008).
Concerning stepwise hierarchical linear regression analysis, the variables that
showed to be significant predicator of overall satisfaction were; pension (b=1.89, p=.011),
income (b= .001, p= .001), independently handle finance (b= 1.06, p=.042),emotional
HHIA (b= -.109 , p=.001), social HHIA (b= -.126, p=.004), social support of family
(b= .251 , p=.002) , social support of friend (b=.245 , p=.001), and social support of
significant other (b=.209 , p=.002).
from the results of this study, it is recommended:
• National screening program for auditory problems for newborns will help early
discovery and proper management of hearing impairment.
• Premarital counselling about risk factors for hearing problems; medication abuse on
planning for pregnancy and as early as possible visiting physician for antenatal care.
• Health education at all chances; at clinic, mass media, schools, and university about
risk factors, availability of services for early detection and proper management.
• More studies are needed to examine the impact of hearing impairment on perceived
quality of life (QOL) for all aspects of community (worker, youth, …).
• Encourage studies to investigate the impact of early use of hearing aid on quality of
life.
• More studies are needed to investigate the impact of hearing impairment on a family
member.