[Hearing impairment : successful communication as the main source of positive experiences].
BACKGROUND
In recent years some studies could show that besides the negative effects of stressful encounters resulting from disorders and handicaps, positive experiences can also be made. The aim of this study was to determine which strategies can help persons with hearing impairments to gain positive experiences.


METHODS
A questionnaire in the German language consisting of the Trier Personality Inventory and a German translation of a questionnaire designed to measure the positive experiences in life with acquired hearing impairment was distributed to persons with acquired hearing impairment, who were recruited from hearing aid audiologists and ear nose and throat physicians.


RESULTS
Persons with hearing impairments showed no differences to the general population with respect to their personality profile. Positive experiences are significantly more common by successful communication behavior than by other strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful communication helps persons with hearing impairments to gain positive experiences.
Eisenwort
B
B
Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Zentrum für Public Health, MUW, Severingasse 9, 1090, Wien, Osterreich. brigitte.eisenwort@meduniwien.ac.at
Schlanitz
F
F
Niederkrotenthaler
T
T
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006311:Hearing Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
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