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Hearing-related quality of life in children and adolescents in rural Alaska.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hicks, KL; Robler, SK; Simmons, RA; Ross, A; Egger, JR; Emmett, SD
Published in: Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology
February 2023

This study evaluated the Hearing Environments and Reflection on Quality of Life (HEAR-QL) questionnaire in rural Alaska, including an addendum crafted through community feedback to reflect the local context. The objectives were to assess whether HEAR-QL score was inversely correlated with hearing loss and middle ear disease in an Alaska Native population.The HEAR-QL questionnaires for children and adolescents were administered as part of a cluster randomized trial in rural Alaska from 2017 to 2019. Enrolled students completed an audiometric evaluation and HEAR-QL questionnaire on the same day. A cross-sectional evaluation of questionnaire data was utilized.A total of 733 children (ages 7-12 years) and 440 adolescents (ages ≥13 years) completed the questionnaire. Median HEAR-QL scores were similar among children with and without hearing loss (Kruskal-Wallis, p = .39); however, adolescent HEAR-QL scores significantly decreased with increasing hearing loss (p < .001). Median HEAR-QL scores were significantly lower in both children (p = .02) and adolescents (p < .001) with middle ear disease compared with those without. In both children and adolescents, the addendum scores were strongly correlated with total HEAR-QL score (ρSpearman = 0.72 and 0.69, respectively).The expected negative association between hearing loss and HEAR-QL score was observed in adolescents. However, there was significant variability that could not be explained by hearing loss, and further investigation is warranted. The expected negative association was not observed in children. HEAR-QL scores were associated with middle ear disease in both children and adolescents, making it potentially valuable in populations where the prevalence of ear infections is high.Level 2 Clinicaltrials.gov registration numbers: NCT03309553.

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Published In

Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology

DOI

EISSN

2378-8038

ISSN

2378-8038

Publication Date

February 2023

Volume

8

Issue

1

Start / End Page

269 / 278
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Hicks, K. L., Robler, S. K., Simmons, R. A., Ross, A., Egger, J. R., & Emmett, S. D. (2023). Hearing-related quality of life in children and adolescents in rural Alaska. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, 8(1), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.973
Hicks, Kelli L., Samantha Kleindienst Robler, Ryan A. Simmons, Alexandra Ross, Joseph R. Egger, and Susan D. Emmett. “Hearing-related quality of life in children and adolescents in rural Alaska.Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology 8, no. 1 (February 2023): 269–78. https://doi.org/10.1002/lio2.973.
Hicks KL, Robler SK, Simmons RA, Ross A, Egger JR, Emmett SD. Hearing-related quality of life in children and adolescents in rural Alaska. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology. 2023 Feb;8(1):269–78.
Hicks, Kelli L., et al. “Hearing-related quality of life in children and adolescents in rural Alaska.Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology, vol. 8, no. 1, Feb. 2023, pp. 269–78. Epmc, doi:10.1002/lio2.973.
Hicks KL, Robler SK, Simmons RA, Ross A, Egger JR, Emmett SD. Hearing-related quality of life in children and adolescents in rural Alaska. Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology. 2023 Feb;8(1):269–278.
Journal cover image

Published In

Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology

DOI

EISSN

2378-8038

ISSN

2378-8038

Publication Date

February 2023

Volume

8

Issue

1

Start / End Page

269 / 278