title: Use of a closed set questionnaire to measure primary and secondary effects of neurofibromatosis type 2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the greatest difficulties reported by people affected by neurofibromatosis type 2, and to determine the relationship between the primary and secondary effects of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postal questionnaire study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaire sent to subjects' home addresses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-seven adult patients under the care of the Manchester multidisciplinary neurofibromatosis type 2 team were invited to take part.
  
  
  METHODS
  The response rate was 62 out of 87 (71 per cent).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Respondents' answers emphasised that their greatest problem was deafness, which resulted in communication difficulties with social contacts, close partners, family and friends. Correlation coefficients indicated a relationship between general mood changes and hearing difficulties, social communication problems, balance difficulties and mobility problems. Self-confidence was significantly related only to social communication problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of a closed set neurofibromatosis type 2 questionnaire identified hearing problems and subsequent communication difficulties as the main problems faced by people with this condition.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Centre, Warrington Primary Care Trust, Orford, Warrington, WA2 9HY, UK. wanda.neary@nhs.net
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Neary
authors.forename: V F
authors.initials: VF
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Flute
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stephens
authors.forename: R T
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Ramsden
authors.forename: D G R
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Evans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005152:Facial Muscles; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000209:etiology*; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult