Gesundheitsbezogene Lebensqualität permanent schwerhöriger Kinder im Urteil ihrer Eltern. Health-related quality of life in children with hearing loss in their parents' perspective.

Objective: External assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQL) in children and adolescents with permanent hearing loss. Method: 292 parents of hearing-impaired children received a standardized, age-adapted HRQL questionnaire (KINDL-R; on average 5.5 years after the provision with hearing aids). 68.8\% of the questionnaires were sent back. Study group: 178 children (91 boys, 87 girls), age 4.0 to 16.11 years; 23 children with multiple handicaps, age 4.0 to 16.0 years. The children were patients of the Goettinger Hoer-Sprachregister. Results: The overall HRQL in children with hearing loss only was not adversely affected by the sensory disorder (Total HRQL 77.2; SD = 9.5 on a scale from 0 to 100). Boys (76.5; SD = 9.9) and girls (77.9; SD = 9.2) did not show a significant difference. The mean Total HRQL-score of the multiple handicapped children was reduced (68.0; SD = 15.3; p = 0.01) compared to those without other impairments. Age and contentment with school/kindergarten of the children with hearing loss were negatively correlated (r = −0.27; p < 0.001). The parents of the children with multiple handicaps rated the LQ of the scales 'somatic well being' (p = 0.003) and 'friends' (p = 0.001) lower. Conclusions: Children with hearing impairment did not exhibit a general reduction of HRQL. HRQL of hearing-impaired children with comorbid disabilities is clearly diminished. Nevertheless the disorder seems to make social interactions more difficult and thus impede the psychosocial development of a child. Interactions between changed attitudes of parents and their effects on the child are to assume. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Accession Number: 2008-13375-002. Translated Title: Health-related quality of life in children with hearing loss in their parents' perspective. Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Reeh, Marcus; Abt. Phoniatrie/Padaudiologie, Universitatsmedizin, Georg-August-Universitat Gottingen, Gottingen, Germany. Release Date: 20090921. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Electronic. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: German. Major Descriptor: Health; Hearing Disorders; Parents; Psychosocial Development; Quality of Life. Minor Descriptor: Hearing Aids. Classification: Vision & Hearing & Sensory Disorders (3299). Population: Human (10); Male (30); Female (40). Age Group: Childhood (birth-12 yrs) (100); Preschool Age (2-5 yrs) (160); School Age (6-12 yrs) (180); Adolescence (13-17 yrs) (200). Tests & Measures: Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire. Methodology: Empirical Study; Quantitative Study. References Available: Y. Page Count: 8. Issue Publication Date: 2008.