title: Relationship between hearing loss and sexual dysfunction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Deafness may be one of the factors that leads to a change in sexual function. This study aimed to assess sexual function, in particular erectile dysfunction, in male patients with hearing loss.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied two groups: (1) adult men with acquired, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss, and (2) healthy, adult, married men demonstrated to have normal hearing levels, as the control group. Sexual function was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Functions questionnaire, and quality of life using the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference between the groups regarding the International Index of Erectile Functions questionnaire results (p <0.001), both for each of the five questionnaire domain scores and for the total score.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that men with mild or moderate sensorineural hearing loss have poorer sexual health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bakır
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Penbegül
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gün
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yorgancilar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kiniş
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özbay
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Atar
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Dicle University Medical College, Diyarbakır, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güneş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications*; D006306:Health Surveys; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires