Quality of life among adults with hearing loss in Cantonal Hospital of Zenica: A cross-sectional study.
Aim To assess Qualitiy of life (QoL) in adults by comparing two groups, the one with diagnosed hearing loss (HL) and the other without hearing complaints. Methods This cross-sectional study included 110 consecutive voluntary adult patients divided in two groups: patients with hearing loss and control group. All participants , after examination , answered to a questionnaires on sociodemographic, clinical data and the World health Organization Quality of Life- Short version (WHOQOL-BREF). Results: Among 110 adults participants, 59 were with hearing loss (hearing loss group – HLG) and 19 in hearing loss with hearing aid group (HLHAG) and 51 in control group. Consistently higher score in the domains of physical health (p=0.036) and psychological health (p=0.024) in control group was found; other domains did not reach statistical significance Significant differences between the HLHAG and control group in physical health (mean difference = -11.3; p=0.036) and psychological health (mean difference = -11.3; p=0.029) was confirmed. Conculsion Hearing loss could decrease QoL. Therefore, it is very important to recognize hearing impairment in a timely manner and to take a serious approach to treatment.