title: Quality of life in older Chinese-speaking adults with hearing impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  General and hearing-specific health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was examined in elderly Chinese with hearing impairment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-four Chinese speakers aged ≥65 years and did not use hearing aids were evaluated using Chinese versions of the Short-Form 36 health survey (SF-36) and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (Screening Version) (HHIE-S). Results on the SF-36 were compared to norms obtained in a general elderly Chinese population. The relationships between HRQoL and degree of hearing impairment, and between SF-36 and HHIE-S were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Elderly Chinese speakers with hearing impairment rated six of the eight scales of the SF-36 poorer, compared to a general elderly Chinese population. When average hearing impairment in the better ear exceeded 40 dB HL, SF-36 ratings were poorer than those with better hearing. Poorer better ear hearing was significantly related to poorer ratings on the Vitality scale of the SF-36 and the three scales of the HHIE-S, after controlling for age, gender and number of coexisting chronic health problems. Ratings on SF-36 and HHIE-S did not correlate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elderly Chinese who are hearing impaired experienced poorer general and hearing-specific HRQoL, and HRQoL is reduced further among those with greater hearing impairment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Lena L N
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Lai Ki
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires