Impact of hearing impairment on quality of life of adolescents

Uvod: Adolescencija je stadij života s brzim i velikim razvojnim promjenama, ali je malo poznato kako te promjene utječu na kvalitetu života gluhih adolescenata. Oštećenje sluha uočljivo je u svakodnevnoj interakciji s okolinom, a utječe na razvoj govora, socijalni i emocionalni razvoj, a posljedično i na kvalitetu života. Pravodobno otkrivanje oštećenja sluha i rani intervencijski postupci će posljedično utjecati na kvalitetu života (na)gluhe djece. Suvremeni pristup u rehabilitaciji i edukaciji djece s teškoćama u razvoju stavlja naglasak na preostale sposobnosti djeteta i poboljšanje kvalitete života djeteta i njegove obitelji. Cilj: Cilj istraživanja je utvrditi postoje li razlike u samoprocjeni kvalitete života adolescenata s oštećenjem sluha i adolescenata bez oštećenja sluha. Ispitanici i metode: U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 49 adolescenata, od čega 22 adolescenta imaju oštećenje sluha, a 27 nema oštećenja sluha. Uzorak čini 28 ispitanica i 21 ispitanik, a dob ispitanika kreće se od 15 do 17 godina. Istraživanje je provedeno u Centru za odgoj i obrazovanje "Slava Raškaj" i Školi za medicinske sestre Mlinarska, u Zagrebu školske godine 2014./2015. Podaci za istraživanje prikupljeni su putem PedsQL™ - Upitnika za procjenu kvalitete života pedijatrijskih ispitanika, Verzija 4.0 za adolescente od 13 do 18 godina. Upitnik se sastoji od 23 čestice kojima se mjeri tjelesno, emocionalno, socijalno i školsko funkcioniranje ispitanika. Rezultati: Adolescenti s oštećenjem sluha procjenjuju kvalitetu života lošijom od adolescenata bez oštećenja sluha. Razlika je dokazana u samoprocjeni fizičkog, socijalno i školskog funkcioniranja, dok nije dokazana u samoprocjeni emocionalnog funkcioniranja. Zaključak: Adolescenti s oštećenjem sluha imaju nižu kvalitetu života u odnosu na svoje čujuće vršnjake. Razlike su prisutne u fizičkom, socijalnom i školskom funkcioniranju.Introduction: Adolescence is a stage of life with fast and large developmental changes, but little is known how these changes affect the quality of life of deaf adolescents. Hearing impairment is evident in their daily interaction with the environment and the effect on language development, social and emotional development and consequently on the quality of life. Timely detection of hearing impairment and early intervention procedures will consequently affect the quality of life (to) deaf children. The modern approach to the rehabilitation and education of children with disabilities focuses on the remaining abilities and improving the quality of life of the child and his family. Goal: The aim of this study was to determine whether there are differences in self-reported quality of life of adolescents with hearing impairment and adolescents with no hearing impairment. Subjects and Methods: The study included 49 adolescents, of which 22 adolescents have hearing loss and 27 have no hearing impairment. The sample consisted of 28 male participants and 21 female participants aged 15 to 17 years. The study was conducted at the Center for Training and Education "Slava Raškaj" and the Nursing school Mlinarska in Zagreb in academic year 2014/2015. Data for the survey were collected from PedsQL™ - Questionnaire to assess the quality of life of pediatric patients, Version 4.0 for adolescents aged 13 to 18 years. The questionnaire consists of 23 particles which measure the participant's physical, emotional, social and school functioning. Results: Adolescents with hearing impairment assessed quality of life worse than adolescents without hearing impairment. The difference is demonstrated in the self-evaluation of physical, social and school functioning, while not proven in self-emotional functioning. Conclusion: Adolescents with hearing impairment have a lower quality of life compared to their normal hearing peers. The differences are present in the physical, social and school functioning