Self-reported hearing performance among subjects with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss

Abstract

Background: Individuals with unilateral sensorineural hearing loss (USNHL) have difficulties understanding speech from the affected side, perceiving speech in noisy environments and localizing sounds, but the degree of reported participation restrictions varies across the population. Objective: To explore disabilities among adults with USNHL compared to subjects with good hearing, to clarify whether hearing performance differs according to age or gender, whether performance is dependent on the side affected, and if gradual or sudden onset has an effect. Study design: The Speech, Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) questionnaire was sent to the subjects together with a dedicated questionnaire on age, gender, handedness, onset, duration and cause of hearing impairment, and hearing instrument (HI) use. Study sample: Ninety-eight subjects with USNHL and a reference group of 89 normal-hearing subjects. Results: No association was found between age and median SSQ ratings. No difference was seen between ratings by female and male subjects. No effect of side of USNHL or onset type was seen. All ratings in the three SSQ sections were higher in the reference group compared to those of the USNHL group. Speech in difficult situations and localization were the factors most affected by USNHL. Conclusions: Age, gender, USNHL onset type and handedness side had no effect on the SSQ scores. Speech recognition in difficult situations, localization, and the estimation of distance from sound sources were rated worse by the USNHL group than by the normal hearing reference group. Subjects from the USNHL group rated speech understanding in easy environments and sound quality no differently from those in the normal hearing reference group.