title: Quality of life reported by patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluated quality of life (QOL) in the patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Multicenter clinical investigation in ten university hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 167 patients with ISSHL and 134 patients with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (BSHL; control) were included.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Short Form Health Survey Version 2 was used to assess the health-related QOL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average scores of 8 domains and 2 summary components were similar between the 2 groups. All scores except those for bodily pain (BP) in ISSHL patients and BP and vitality in BSHL patients were significantly lower than the Japanese average. Scores for the mental component summary (MCS) were especially low in ISSHL patients. MCS scores of ISSHL patients aged 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, and 70 years or older were significantly lower than the Japanese average for each age group. MCS scores of BSHL patients 70 years or older were significantly lower than the Japanese average. Two-way analysis of variance revealed no significant association of disease (ISSHL and BSHL) and age with MCS score. Interactions were also not significant. The effects of sex, age, hearing level, and time interval from the onset on MCS scores of ISSHL patients were evaluated using multiple regression analysis. Age and time interval from the onset were observed to be significant confounders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The QOL of patients with ISSHL deteriorated especially in terms of mental functioning. Similar deterioration was observed in BSHL patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan. sanohj@med.kitasato-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sano
authors.forename: Makito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohhashi
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000523:psychology*; D003639:Hearing Loss, Sudden / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*