The factors that affect quality of life for the population with hearing loss.

What is it about?

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multi-dimensional concept that includes domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning. This article explores which factors are associated with the domains of HRQoL for deaf and hard of hearing people, in comparison with people with normal hearing.

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Why is it important?

This study adds to the limited number of studies which associated the degree of hearing loss with poorer HRQoL in young and middle-aged adults. It was found also that important factors for lower quality of life were the educational level, body mass index, levels of physical activity, and alcohol consumption levels, while the variable “number of family members per household” was inversely associated with physical health summary scale score. One possible explanation for this paradox is the better ability of participants to pay privately for health and interpreting services if a smaller number of persons cohabiting shares a low household’s income. This may happen as the very high percentage of private payments is a significant characteristic of the mixed financial resources of the Greek health care system.

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