Quality of life among adult patients with sensorineural hearing loss attending ORL clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es salaam, Tanzania

Abstract

Sensorineural hearing loss has been found to decrease quality of life (QOL) as it basically compromises communication thus affecting multiple forms of social, emotional and physical function; such individuals are more likely to experience mental and physical health decline. Although sensorineural hearing loss is prevalent in adult Tanzanians with Otorhinolaryngology complaints, no study has established its impact on QOL. Objective: This study was set out to examine the impact of sensorineural hearing loss on the quality of life among adults attending to the Otorhinolaryngology clinic at Muhimbili National Hospital. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional study was carried among 136 adult patients with sensorineural hearing loss attending the Otorhinolaryngology clinic of Muhimbili National Hospital. Data was collected using WHOQOL BREF and developed medical examination form for collecting clinical information. Data was summarized at univariate level by summary statistics, comparisons at bivariate was done by Chi-square test; level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Sensorineural hearing Loss was most prevalent in female compared to male participants, (60.29% and 39.71%). More than half of the participants with sensorineural hearing loss were aged between 18 and 47 years (67.0%). Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was the most common (79.4%), occurring in more than half of the study population (53.0%) and the majority being female participants (48%). Mild and moderate sensorineural hearing loss presented almost evenly in the study population (21% and 20%), both being common in participants aged between 18 and 47 years and more prevalent in female compared to male participants. The majority of the population experience poor quality of life (69.12%),social health domain scoring highest in contribution to QOL. Poor quality of life was common in participants with mild and moderate sensorineural hearing loss presenting in even distribution in the study population (22.80% and 22.05%). Female participants and participants aged above 63 years, had higher scores in social health domain compared to other age groups. Quality of life status was only associated with sensorineural hearing loss lateralization (p value=0.007). Conclusion: Generally, the results of this study indicate poor quality of life associated with sensorineural hearing loss, more observed in female participants, those with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. Majority of participants with sensorineural hearing loss were aged between 18 and 47 years and social health domain scored the highest in mean score compared to other domains. Generally, the results of this current study suggest that, female participants and participants aged above 63 years have good social health compared to the male participants and other age groups. The results of the current study also add detail regarding quality-of-life domains indicating that; social health is having the highest mean score compared to other domains. Recommendation: Early detection of hearing loss and early management is advised to improve quality of life. This will enable better working performance in young population with sensorineural hearing loss. Improvements of physical, environmental and psychological health of individuals with sensorineural hearing loss especially the youth will significantly improve the general quality of life status of the individuals. Proper counseling, use of hearing aids and cochlear implants for those with indications together with sign language training and lip reading should be advocated in individuals so as to improve quality of life especially in the young populations who are still at colleges and or working to be able to cater for their families. We also recommend that larger population studies to be carried out to investigate the influence of the quality of life of the individual with sensorineural hearing loss.