title: Hearing Loss and Quality of Life (QOL) among Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Infected and Uninfected Adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research has established that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes hearing loss. Studies have yet to evaluate the impact on quality of life (QOL). This project evaluates the effect of hearing loss on QOL by HIV status.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study participants were from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) and the Women's Interagency HIV study (WIHS). A total of 248 men and 127 women participated. Pure-tone air conduction thresholds were collected for each ear at frequencies from 250 through 8000 Hz. Pure-tone averages (PTAs) for each ear were calculated as the mean of air conduction thresholds in low frequencies (i.e., 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 Hz) and high frequencies (i.e., 3000, 4000, 6000 and 8000 Hz). QOL data were gathered with the Short Form 36 Health Survey and Medical Outcome Study (MOS)-HIV instrument in the MACS and WIHS, respectively. A median regression analysis was performed to test the association of PTAs with QOL by HIV status.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant association between hearing loss and QOL scores at low and high pure tone averages in HIV positive and negative individuals. HIV status, HIV biomarkers and treatment did not change the lack of association of low and high pure tone averages with poorer QOL.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although we did not find a statistically significant association of hearing loss with QOL by HIV status, testing for hearing loss with aging and recommending treatment may offset any presumed later life decline in QOL.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.affiliation: School of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torre
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Springer
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Plankey
keywords: Auditory impairment; Multicenter AIDS cohort study; QOL; Women's interagency HIV study