Hearing loss and work participation: a cross-sectional study in Norway

The audiological rehabilitation of workers with hearing loss in the UK: a qualitative study of workers' perspectives

PURPOSE

Unaddressed hearing loss can adversely affect employment and day-to-day work-life. Efficient and effective audiology support can help optimise hearing in the workplace. This study explores the audiological rehabilitation experiences of workers with hearing loss (WHL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-four WHL with experience of a wide range of audiology services across the UK participated in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Three main themes were generated: Theme 1: mixed experiences with audiology services (subdivided into two subthemes and four sub-subthemes). Theme 2: audiology role in work support (subdivided into three subthemes). Theme 3: "I think support could be improved if…" (subdivided into two subthemes).

CONCLUSION

The audiological rehabilitation for working-age adults with hearing loss needs improvements to deliver sufficient support and quality care. Some of the barriers to having better-functioning hearing healthcare require fundamental standards in healthcare quality, such as access to services, staff (including audiologists) deaf awareness, information and technology support, and personalised care that considers work-life needs. Further research is required to evaluate the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of improvements, such as support that extends beyond hearing aid care, whether from audiology or non-audiology services.

How to remain in working life with hearing loss - health factors for a sustainable work situation

BACKGROUND

Persons with hearing loss (HL) are a vulnerable group in working life. Studies have shown that they are more likely than the general population to be in part-time work, to be unemployed, receive disability pension, and to be on sick leave. Many workers with HL also experience unhealthy work conditions, such as jobs where they experience high demands combined with low control as well as safety concerns and social isolation. There is a lack of studies that focus on factors that promote a healthy, sustainable work situation for the target group.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate health factors that contribute to a sustainable work situation for employees with HL.

METHODS

The current study was a comparative, observational study with a cross-sectional design including a clinical population of adults with HL. Comparisons were made between workers with HL "in work" and workers with HL on "HL-related sick leave".

RESULTS

Seven health factors were identified. Those "in work" experienced a healthier work environment as well as lower levels of mental strain, hearing-related work characteristics and content, cognitively demanding work content, hearing-related symptoms, energy-demanding activities, and bodily aches and pain than those on "HL-related sick leave".

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrate a clear pattern regarding health factors for a sustainable working life. The type of job was not related to whether an individual was on sick leave or working. Rather, the work climate and the content of the work mattered.

The Effects of Light Level and Signal-to-Noise Ratio on the Task-Evoked Pupil Response in a Speech-in-Noise Task

PURPOSE

There is increasing interest in the measurement of cognitive effort during listening tasks, for both research and clinical purposes. Quantification of task-evoked pupil responses (TEPRs) is a psychophysiological method that can be used to study cognitive effort. However, light level during cognitively demanding listening tasks may affect TEPRs, complicating interpretation of listening-related changes. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of light level on TEPRs during effortful listening across a range of signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs).

METHOD

Thirty-six adults without hearing loss were asked to repeat target sentences presented in background babble noise while their pupil diameter was recorded. Light level and SNRs were manipulated in a 4 × 4 repeated-measures design. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to measure the effects.

RESULTS

Peak and mean dilation were typically larger in more adverse SNR conditions (except for SNR -6 dB) and smaller in higher light levels. Differences in mean and peak dilation between SNR conditions were larger in dim light than in brighter light.

CONCLUSIONS

Brighter light conditions make TEPRs less sensitive to variations in listening effort across levels of SNR. Therefore, light level must be considered and reported in detail to ensure sensitivity of TEPRs and for comparisons of findings across different studies. It is recommended that TEPR testing be conducted in relatively low light conditions, considering both background illumination and screen luminance.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.25676538.

The dizzying cycle: a qualitative study showing the effects of vestibular disorders and stress on work experience

OBJECTIVE

Quantitative studies have explored the work abilities of persons with specific vestibular-related symptoms, but there seems to be a dearth of research that has explored the work experience of persons-with- vestibular- disorders, so this qualitative study explored this phenomenon.

DESIGN

Audio-recorded semi-structured interviews were conducted online. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the transcripts. Together, two researchers coded the transcripts and deductively identified the main themes on the main components of the expanded International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health scheme, and thereafter generated the sub-themes inductively.

STUDY SAMPLE

Fourteen people with various vestibular disorders and occupations in South Africa participated in the study.

RESULTS

Participants reported having difficulty performing work-related tasks requiring attention to detail and ambulation, and work environmental conditions triggered their vestibular-related symptoms. Some participants received time off from work and support from their supervisors and colleagues, while others did not. Seeking mental services allowed them to overcome their negative feelings, medication suppressed their vestibular-related symptoms, and vestibular rehabilitation allowed them to focus on their work.

CONCLUSION

Vestibular-related symptoms may hinder persons- with- vestibular- disorders from completing and participating in work-related activities, which may result in them experiencing negative feelings. The nature of some of the work-related tasks that they need to complete and experiencing negative feelings may trigger their vestibular-related symptoms. Together, the work-related activity limitations, participation restrictions, and environmental and personal factors may cause persons- with- vestibular- disorders to experience disability in their workplaces. To prevent this potential disability, persons with vestibular disorders should be supported by and receive workplace accommodations. Furthermore, they should be enrolled into work rehabilitation programmes that include, vestibular rehabilitation, medication regimens, and mental health services.

Influence of cochlear implantation on the working ability of hearing-impaired patients: A prospective study on potential influencing factors

PURPOSE

This study evaluates the effect of cochlear implantation (CI) on work ability. The influences of quality of life (QOL), age, mental health, and hearing were analyzed.

METHODS

Seventy-nine patients undergoing CI surgery were evaluated preoperatively and 12 months postoperatively. Work ability was evaluated using the Work Ability Index (WAI). QOL was assessed with the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ) and the WHOQOL-BREF. Mental health was assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire.

RESULTS

The WAI was unaffected by CI (Δ 0.8 ± 6.8, p = 0.42). No significant changes in WAI were observed for employees (Δ - 1.1 ± 5.7, p = 0.25) and pensioners (Δ -0.4 ± 7.8, p = 0.73). Patients without elevated depressiveness, stress, or somatoform symptoms had significantly better WAI.The multiple regression analyses show that WHOQOL-BREF (ß = 0.49, p ≤ 0.001), age (ß = -0.34, p ≤ 0.001), and depressiveness (ß = 0.33, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with WAI. In the employee group, the NCIQ (ß = 0.58, p = 0.008) had the strongest association with the WAI.

CONCLUSION

Age, mental health, and QOL are predictive factors for work ability. This should be considered in the consultation and the rehabilitation process.

Hearing and sociality: the implications of hearing loss on social life

Hearing is essential to the formation of social relationships and is the principal afferent of social life. Yet hearing loss, which is one of the most prevalent forms of sensory disability worldwide and is critical for social development, has received little attention from the social interventionalist perspective. The purpose of this mini-review is to describe the basic neurobiological principles of hearing and to explore the reciprocal relationships between social support, hearing loss, and its psychosocial comorbidities. We also discuss the role of social enrichment in sensorineural recovery and identify open questions within the fields of hearing physiology and social networks.

The relationship between hearing status, listening effort, and the need for recovery in employees of a manufacturing company

OBJECTIVE

Hearing screening can be used to detect hearing loss, but its value for identifying employees with work functioning difficulties is unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the association between the hearing status measured with an occupational hearing-in-noise screening test, Listening Effort (LE), and Need For Recovery (NFR) in employees of a manufacturing company, and to examine whether these associations depend on the perceived noise level at the workplace.

METHODS

Employees of coatings and paints manufacturing company were included. Their hearing status was assessed with an occupational hearing-in-noise screening test. An online survey was used to assess their LE, NFR, and the perceived noise level at the workplace. Responses from 143 employees were analyzed (mean age = 53 years) using hierarchical multiple regression analysis with the outcomes LE and NFR.

RESULTS

Regression analysis-with adjustments for gender, age, educational level, health status, pace/amount of work, job variety, and work pleasure-revealed that hearing status was significantly associated with LE, but the interaction between hearing status and the perceived noise level was not. Hearing status nor the interaction between hearing status and the perceived noise level was significantly associated with NFR.

CONCLUSION

The results confirm that poorer hearing is associated with higher LE, but not with higher NFR. These associations were unrelated to the perceived noise level at the workplace. Therefore, the value of occupational hearing screening appears to be early identification of hearing loss in employees, but not identification of work functioning difficulties.

Associations among hearing loss, multiple co-occurring symptoms, and quality of life outcomes in cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Evaluate for differences in demographic and clinical characteristics, occurrence of common symptoms, symptom severity scores, and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in survivors with (n = 155) and without (n = 118) audiometrically confirmed hearing loss.

METHODS

Survivors, who were recruited from throughout the San Francisco Bay area, completed the self-report questionnaires to obtain the information of demographic and clinical characteristics; the occurrence and severity of depression, anxiety, fatigue, decrements in energy, sleep disturbance, pain, and cognitive impairment; and the general and cancer-specific QOL outcomes. Parametric and non-parametric tests were used to evaluate for differences between the two survivor groups.

RESULTS

Survivors with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss were older, more likely to be male, were more likely to be unemployed, report a lower annual household income, and had a higher comorbidity burden. Except for the severity of worst pain, no between-group differences were found in the occurrence rates for or severity of any of the symptoms. Survivors with hearing loss reported worse physical function and general health scores.

CONCLUSIONS

While no between-group differences in symptom occurrence rates and severity scores were found, across the total sample, a relatively high percentage of survivors who were over 6 years from their cancer diagnosis reported clinically meaningful levels of depression (25%), anxiety (50%), fatigue (40%), decrements in energy (70%), sleep disturbance (58%), cognitive impairment (57%), and pain (60%).

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Clinicians need to perform routine assessments of hearing loss, as well as common co-occurring symptoms and initiate individualized symptom management interventions.

Physiological State Evaluation in Working Environment Using Expert System and Random Forest Machine Learning Algorithm

Healthy lifestyle is one of the most important factors in the prevention of premature deaths, chronic diseases, productivity loss, obesity, and other economic and social aspects. The workplace plays an important role in promoting the physical activity and wellbeing of employees. Previous studies are mostly focused on individual interviews, various questionnaires that are a conceptual information about individual health state and might change according to question formulation, specialist competence, and other aspects. In this paper the work ability was mostly related to the employee's physiological state, which consists of three separate systems: cardiovascular, muscular, and neural. Each state consists of several exercises or tests that need to be performed one after another. The proposed data transformation uses fuzzy logic and different membership functions with three or five thresholds, according to the analyzed physiological feature. The transformed datasets are then classified into three stages that correspond to good, moderate, and poor health condition using machine learning techniques. A three-part Random Forest method was applied, where each part corresponds to a separate system. The obtained testing accuracies were 93%, 87%, and 73% for cardiovascular, muscular, and neural human body systems, respectively. The results indicate that the proposed work ability evaluation process may become a good tool for the prevention of possible accidents at work, chronic fatigue, or other health problems.

Workplace accommodation requests: Experiences of barriers and facilitators among deaf and hard-of-hearing

BACKGROUND

Despite the protections afforded by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), workers who are deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) face workplace challenges that may require the aid of workplace resources and accommodations. Limited research has been conducted to understand the process of accommodation requests among DHH workers.

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative study examined barriers and facilitators to requesting accommodations among DHH workers.

METHODS

Fifty-nine DHH workers, recruited from organizations serving DHH workers across U.S., participated in the study. Participants' open-ended survey responses were analyzed and coded into themes representing barriers or facilitators to participants' decisions to request or withhold requests for accommodations.

RESULTS

Facilitators to accommodation request include an employee's effective use of self-efficacy and self-advocacy; supportive work environments; and the presence of peers with disabilities. Barriers to accommodation requests include the anticipation of negative perception of stigmatization in the workplace; lack of knowledge related to accommodations and ADA; absence of workplace support; ineffectual workplace structure, policies, or procedures; concerns surrounding costs; and physical and access barriers in the workplace.

CONCLUSION

To fulfill the workers' rights as guaranteed by the ADA, and to best serve the interests of the workplace, strategies are highlighted on how to assist DHH employees to take advantage of workplace accommodations with aims to promote job retention and success.

Hearing loss, sick leave, and disability pension: findings from the HUNT follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Evidence on the association between hearing loss and sick leave or disability pension is to a great extent based on few cross-sectional studies and remains unclear. We aim to assess the associations in a long-term follow-up population study.

METHODS

We used baseline data from a large population-based hearing study in Norway, the HUNT Hearing study (1996-1998). The sample included 21 754 adults (48.5% men, mean age at baseline 36.6 years). We used register data on sick leave and disability pension (1996-2011). Cox regression was used to assess the association between hearing loss at baseline (Pure tone average/PTA 0.5-4 kHz > 20 dB) and time to first physician-certified sick leave episode, as well as time to first disability pension payment.

RESULTS

Hearing loss at baseline (yes/no) was weakly associated with time to first physician-certified sick leave episode: Hazard ratio (HR) 1.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-1.3). Restricting the exposed group to people with both hearing loss and tinnitus, the HR was slightly increased: 1.3 (95% CI 1.1-1.6). Hearing loss in 1996-1998 was also associated with time to first received disability pension: HR 1.5 (95% CI 1.3-1.8). Stronger associations were found for disabling hearing loss (PTA > 35). Restricting the exposure to hearing loss and tinnitus, the HR was increased: 2.0 (95% CI 1.4-2.8).

CONCLUSIONS

This large population-based cohort study indicates that hearing loss is associated with increased risk of receiving disability pension, especially among younger adults and low educated workers. Hearing loss was weakly associated with sick leave.

Follow-up on children with suspected bilateral congenital hearing loss identified through universal newborn hearing screening program in Taiwan: A national-based population study

OBJECTIVE

This investigation was to ascertain the performance of the UNHS in Taiwan.

METHODS

The predefined questionnaire was delivered on the phone in 2016. The descriptive analysis was applied to the research data. 941 neonates in birth cohorts 2013-2014 who were documented as a bilateral referral in the national UNHS tracking system were targeted. The respondents were either caregivers or family members.

RESULTS

40.3% of 941 children were lost to follow-up, and 66.24% of 363 children were diagnosed with SNHL. 45.15% of 163 children used hearing amplification device(s). 77.46% of hearing amplification device users and 7.51% of non-users participated in the auditory training courses. By six months of age, 38.51% and 22.58% of children diagnosed with bilateral SNHL commenced the hearing amplification device fitting and the auditory training courses, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

More efforts are needed to enhance the performance of the UNHS to achieve national goals stated in the 2014 Taiwan UNHS Revised Guidelines and the well-known benchmarks set by the JCIH in 2007. The development of an electronic tracking system for storing and sharing information on the follow-up on children with congenital hearing loss was as significant as the improvements in the understanding of early hearing detection and intervention of the public and stakeholders.

Hearing disability and employment: a population-based analysis using the 2017 Canadian survey on disability

Purpose: The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of hearing disability on employment rates; examine how various factors are associated with employment; and identify workplace accommodations available to persons with hearing disabilities in Canada.Material and methods: A population-based analysis was done using the data collected through the 2017 Canadian Survey on Disability (CSD), representing 6 million (n = 6 246 640) Canadians. A subset of the complete dataset was created focusing on individuals with a hearing disability (n = 1 334 520). Weighted descriptive and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.Results: In 2017, the employment rates for working-age adults with a hearing disability were 55%. Excellent general health status (OR: 3.37; 95% CI: 2.29-4.96) and daily use of the internet (OR: 2.70; 95% CI: 1.78-4.10) had the highest positive effect on the employment rates. The top three needed but least available accommodations were communication aids (16%), technical aids (19%), and accessible parking/elevator (21%).Conclusion: Employment rates for persons with a hearing disability are lower than the general population in Canada. Employment outcomes are closely associated with one's general health and digital skills. Lack of certain workplace accommodations may disadvantage individuals with a hearing disability in their employment.Implications for RehabilitationPeople with severe hearing disabilities and those with additional disabilities may need additional and more rigorous services and supports to achieve competitive employment.It is important for the government to improve efforts toward inclusive education and develop strategies that promote digital literacy for job seekers with hearing disabilities.Officials concerned with implementing employment equity policies in Canada should focus on finding strategies that enable employees to have supportive conversations with their employers regarding disability disclosure and obtaining required accommodations.

Visual impairment and employment in Norway

BACKGROUND

Past studies have suggested lower employment of people with visual impairment. Reasons for this are less known. This study aimed to examine the employment rates among people with visual impairment, and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, vision-related factors, depression, and life satisfaction.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included a stratified random sample of 574 working-age adults (18-67 years) who were members of the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted. Data were collected by telephone interviews between January and May 2017, and included information on work status, sociodemographic factors, vision-related characteristics, depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and life satisfaction (Cantril's Ladder of Life Satisfaction). Associations with employment (full-time, part-time, or self-employment) were examined using regression analyses.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 51.2% of males and 38.1% of females reported to be employed. Employment was associated with being of middle age, male gender, higher education, residing in high-income municipalities, having a moderate degree of vision loss, lower onset-age of vision loss, and having no additional impairments. Employed participants had lower levels of depression compared to others (adjusted exponentiated beta: 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.67, 0.96). They also had a higher odds of scoring higher on life satisfaction (adjusted exponentiated beta (odds ratio): 1.85, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.59).

CONCLUSIONS

Employment was lower in people with visual impairment than in the general population. Inclusion of the blind and partially sighted into the workforce could promote health and thus have socio-economic benefits.

Hearing impairment among workers and satisfaction with the use of hearing aids

BACKGROUND: Hearing problems can have adverse effects on an individual’s job performance, as well as on unemployment or underemployment and increased risk of stress-related sick leave. OBJECTIVE: To investigate hearing impairment among workers and satisfaction with the use of hearing aids. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with workers who are hearing aid users. Subjects underwent pure tone audiometry and answered the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults and the Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life questionnaires. RESULTS: Participants were 36 workers between 36 and 75 years old, with an average age of 53.47 years, 52.7% male and 47.3% female. There was a mild to moderate hearing handicap perception, with worse results for women in the emotional domain. As hearing loss increased, workers’ frustration increased when talking to coworkers. Everyone was satisfied with the use of their hearing aids. Satisfaction increased with increasing age and decreased with increasing hearing loss. The greater the frustration when talking to co-workers, the lower the overall satisfaction with hearing aid use; the lower the satisfaction with the competence of the professional who assisted in adapting the hearing aid; the lower the satisfaction in environments with background noise and overall worse personal image. The worse the attitudes and emotional responses of workers regarding their hearing impairment, the lower the overall satisfaction with the hearing aid. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the use of hearing aids, workers perceive having a hearing impairment, especially women. As hearing loss and frustration in talking with co-workers increased, satisfaction decreased.

Multidimensional Family-Centred Early Intervention in Children with Hearing Loss: A Conceptual Model

At least two per thousand newborns are affected by hearing loss, with up to 40% with an additional disability. Early identification by universal newborn hearing screening and early intervention services are available in many countries around the world, with limited data on their effectiveness and a lack of knowledge about specific intervention-related determinants of child and family outcomes. This concept paper aimed to better understand the mechanisms by which multi-dimensional family-centred early intervention influences child outcomes, through parent behaviour, targeted by intervention by a review of the literature, primarily in the field of childhood hearing loss, supplemented by research findings on physiological and atypical child development. We present a conceptual model of influences of multi-disciplinary family-centred early intervention on family coping/functioning and parent–child interaction, with effects on child psycho-social and cognitive outcomes. Social communication and language skills are postulated as mediators between parent–child interaction and non-verbal child outcomes. Multi-disciplinary networks of professionals trained in family-centred practice and the evaluation of existing services, with respect to best practice guidelines for family-centred early intervention, are recommended. There is a need for longitudinal epidemiological studies, including specific intervention measures, family behaviours and multidimensional child outcomes.

Weaker association between hearing loss and non-employment in recent generations: the HUNT cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the prevalence of hearing loss (HL) among employed persons, the association between HL and non-employment, assessing whether this has changed over the last two decades. To identify susceptible groups for HL-related work problems and examine the association between HL and co-worker relations.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional analyses of working-age participants (20-66 years). HL was defined as the pure-tone average threshold of 0.5-4 kHz in the better hearing ear: 20-34 dB (mild) or ≥35 dB (disabling). Associations were assessed with logistic regression.

STUDY SAMPLE

Data from two waves of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT): HUNT2 1996-1998 (N = 38,603), HUNT4 2017-2019 (N = 19,614).

RESULTS

The nationally weighted prevalence of HL among employees was 5.8%. HL was associated with non-employment, more strongly in HUNT2 (odds ratio (OR) 2.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-2.4) than HUNT4 (OR 1.9, CI 1.7-2.1). HL was not associated with poorer co-worker relations. The association between HL and non-optimal work performance was stronger among white-collar workers than blue-collar workers.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that HL is common in the employed population. It also indicates a weakened association between HL and non-employment in recent generations. White-collar workers appear to be more vulnerable to HL-related work problems than blue-collar workers.

Sustainable employability of teachers with hearing loss

OBJECTIVE

In many countries the retirement age is rising. Consequently, age-related hearing loss is an increasing occupational health problem. This study examined the association between hearing loss and sustainable employability of teachers.

DESIGN

For this cross-sectional study a survey and an online hearing screening test were used. Sustainable employability was measured with the Capability Set for Work Questionnaire (CSWQ), examining seven work values. CSWQ-scores of teachers with poor, insufficient, and good hearing were investigated with ordinal regression analyses. Work values and discrepancies between the importance and achievement of the values were examined by chi-square tests.

STUDY SAMPLE

Dutch teachers (N = 737) of whom 146 (20%) had insufficient and 86 (12%) poor hearing.

RESULTS

Teachers with insufficient (OR = 0.64; 95% CI 0.46-0.89) and poor (OR = 0.55; 95% CI 0.36-0.83) hearing had lower CSWQ-scores compared with good hearing teachers. Adjustment for covariates, in particular for self-rated health, attenuated the associations. Compared with good hearing teachers, teachers with poor hearing reported more discrepancies in using their knowledge and skills and setting their own goals at work.

CONCLUSIONS

Hearing loss was negatively associated with sustainable employability of teachers. This emphasises the importance of assessing the hearing status of teachers.

Hearing loss in Norwegian adults with achondroplasia

Background

Achondroplasia is the most common form of disproportionate skeletal dysplasia. The condition is caused by a mutation in the FGFR3 gene, affecting endochondral bone growth, including the craniofacial anatomy. Recurrent otitis media infections, chronic middle ear effusion, and hearing loss are common in children with achondroplasia, but few studies have investigated hearing loss in adults with this condition.

Objectives

This population-based study investigated the prevalence, severity, and type of hearing loss in Norwegian adults with achondroplasia.

Methods

We collected data on 45 adults with genetically confirmed achondroplasia: 23 men and 22 women, aged 16–70 years. All participants underwent a comprehensive audiologic assessment, including medical history, pure-tone audiometry, speech audiometry, and impedance audiometry. According to the Global Burden of Disease classification, pure-tone average ≥ 20 decibel hearing level (dB HL) was considered clinically significant hearing loss.

Results

Insertion of ventilation tubes had been performed in 44% (20/45) of the participants, 49% (22/45) had a history of adenoidectomy, while 20% (9/45) used hearing aids. Hearing loss in at least one ear was found in 53% (24/45) of the participants; in 57% (13/23) of the men and 50% (11/22) of the women. In the youngest age group (age 16–44 years), 50% (14/28) had hearing loss, although predominantly mild (20–34 dB HL). An abnormal tympanometry (Type B or C) was found in 71% (32/45) of the participants. The majority (15/24) had conductive hearing loss, or a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss (8/24).

Conclusions

Adults with achondroplasia are at increased risk of early hearing loss. Our findings underline the importance of a regular hearing assessment being part of standard care in achondroplasia, including adolescents and young adults. In adult patients diagnosed with hearing loss, an evaluation by an otolaryngologist should be considered, and the need for hearing aids, assistive listening devices, and workplace and educational accommodations should be discussed.

Clinical trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03780153.

The Longitudinal Relationship Between Speech Recognition in Noise, Need for Recovery After Work, Job Demand, and Job Control Over a Period of 5 Years

OBJECTIVE

Hearing impairment may lead to an increased need to recover from fatigue and distress after a day of work. Also, hearing impairment may negatively affect the balance between workload and control over it (job demand and job control). The uptake of hearing solutions may have a positive effect on these outcomes. We aimed to assess the longitudinal relationship between change in speech recognition in noise and changes in need for recovery after work and job demand and job control, and the influence of hearing solutions on these relationships over a period of 5 years. Research questions (RQs) were as follows: (1) Is a 5-year change in speech recognition in noise associated with a change in need for recovery after work over that same 5-year period?; (2) Is a 5-year change in speech recognition in noise associated with a change in job demand and job control over that same 5-year period?; (3) What is the effect of hearing solution uptake in the 5-year period on the change in these outcomes in that same 5-year period?

METHOD

Data of the Netherlands Longitudinal Study on Hearing, collected between 2006 and January 2019, were divided into two 5-year follow-up intervals: T0 (baseline) to T1 (5-year follow-up) and T1 (5-year follow-up) to T2 (10-year follow-up). An online digit-triplet in noise test was used to assess speech recognition in noise. Online questionnaires on demographic, socioeconomic, and work-related characteristics were administered. For RQ1-RQ2, the study sample included adults working ≥12 hours per week, with at least two consecutive measurements (n = 783). For RQ3, employees who had not yet obtained hearing solutions at baseline, but who would be eligible based on a speech reception threshold in noise ≥ -5.5 dB signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), were included (n = 147). Longitudinal linear regression analyses using mixed models were performed to assess RQ1-RQ3.

RESULTS

After adjusting for baseline values, 5-year change in speech recognition in noise showed a statistically significant association with 5-year change in need for recovery. A worsening of 1 dB SNR in speech recognition in noise in an individual was associated with an increase of 0.72 units in need for recovery (scale range 0 to 100). A 5-year change in speech recognition in noise was not significantly associated with a 5-year change in job demand or job control. The uptake of hearing solutions in the 5-year period did not have a significant effect on change in need for recovery in that same 5-year period.

CONCLUSION

The significant longitudinal association between 5-year worsening in speech recognition in noise and increase in need for recovery over the same time period strengthens the evidence for the importance of early detection of a worsening in speech recognition in noise to identify employees with an increase in need for recovery. The absence of an effect of the uptake of a hearing solution on need for recovery indicates that additional alternative interventions may be needed to foster beneficial use of hearing solutions as well as to mitigate the increased need for recovery in case of worsening speech recognition in noise.

The lived experiences of work and health of people living with deaf-blindness due to Usher syndrome type 2

Purpose: This study aimed to explore lived experiences with working life from the perspective of people with deafblindness due to Usher syndrome type 2 (USH2).

Background: A limited number of studies have explored working life of people with Usher syndrome. One study of individuals with USH2 showed that work active reported significantly better psychological health compared to non-working individuals.

Methods: Seven participants aged 38–50 years with USH2 participated in interviews analysed by interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Results: The analyses yielded four themes showing that work is a source of satisfaction and a commitment that needs to be balanced. It is also associated with facing limitations and feelings of uncertainty.

Conclusion: Based on the psychology of work model we have demonstrated that work is associated with social connectedness, self-determination and a source of improved health outcomes. There are however also potential health hazards in people with USH2, indicating a need for balance between individual needs and resources, and an adapted environment, for maintaining or regaining health for actively working people with USH2.

The Effect of Hearing Loss and Hearing Device Fitting on Fatigue in Adults: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

To conduct a systematic review to address two research questions: (Q1) Does hearing loss have an effect on fatigue? (Q2) Does hearing device fitting have an effect on fatigue? It was hypothesized that hearing loss would increase fatigue (H1), and hearing device fitting would reduce fatigue (H2).

DESIGN

Systematic searches were undertaken of five bibliographic databases: Embase, MedLine, Web of Science, Psychinfo, and the Cochrane Library. English language peer-reviewed research articles were included from inception until present. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were formulated using the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study design strategy.

RESULTS

Initial searches for both research questions produced 1,227 unique articles, after removal of duplicates. After screening, the full text of 61 studies was checked, resulting in 12 articles with content relevant to the research questions. The reference lists of these studies were examined, and a final updated search was conducted on October 16, 2019. This resulted in a final total of 20 studies being selected for the review. For each study, the information relating to the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes and Study design criteria and the statistical outcomes relating to both questions (Q1 and Q2) were extracted. Evidence relating to Q1 was provided by 15 studies, reporting 24 findings. Evidence relating to Q2 was provided by six studies, reporting eight findings. One study provided evidence for both. Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation guidelines, the quality of evidence on both research questions was deemed to be "very low." It was impossible to perform a meta-analysis of the results due to a lack of homogeneity.

CONCLUSIONS

As the studies were too heterogeneous to support a meta-analysis, it was not possible to provide statistically significant evidence to support the hypotheses that hearing loss results in increased fatigue (H1) or that hearing device fitting results in decreased fatigue (H2). Despite this, the comparative volume of positive results and the lack of any negative findings are promising for future research (particularly in respect of Q1). There was a very small number of studies deemed eligible for the review, and there was large variability between studies in terms of population, and quantification of hearing loss and fatigue. The review highlights the need for consistency when measuring fatigue, particularly when using self-report questionnaires, where the majority of the current evidence was generated.

Occupational Performance of Hearing-Impaired and Normal-Hearing Workers in Korea

Background and Objectives

This study aimed to investigate the occupational performance of Korean workers with and without hearing loss and analyze the hearing-related difficulties in the working environment.

Subjects and Methods

The Amsterdam checklist for hearing and work was used for the analyses and the occupational environments of the Korean workers were investigated. Out of 129 total participants, 86 workers experienced severe to profound hearing loss and 43 had the normal hearing ability. The hearing-impaired workers were recruited from two leading vocational centers and normal-hearing workers were their colleagues.

Results

The hearing-impaired workers were found to take fewer sick leaves and exhibited higher rates of permanent job statuses compared to the normal-hearing workers. Workers with hearing loss rarely detected background sound; however, they could perceive reverberation more frequently. They felt more satisfied with their careers than the normal hearing workers as they received social support and needed to put their effort into hearing for most hearing activities. Furthermore, the effort in hearing increased with the increase in job demand, job control, social support, and career satisfaction. The working hours per week increased with the increase in age, education level, job demand, job control, and social support. Different trends were observed in 9 out of 12 variables while comparing the data from the present study with that obtained from the hearing-impaired workers of the Netherlands, indicating a large difference between countries.

Conclusions

Although the hearing-impaired Korean workers operate diligently with good job positions, it is necessary to enhance their acoustic environment and provide them social support. Considering the cultural background of the hearing-impaired workers, the development of suitable vocational rehabilitation programs and specific questionnaires is strongly recommended worldwide.

Key findings about hearing loss in the working-life: a scoping review from a well-being perspective

OBJECTIVE

This scoping review investigated key findings about hearing loss (HL) in the working life (WL) from a well-being perspective.

DESIGN

A scoping review protocol was used to search the literature and to explore and extract key findings. A narrative analysis of key findings was used to group the data into themes. Study sample: Fifty-three articles from 29 different journals were included in the analysis.

RESULTS

The narrative analysis identified three broad themes; individual aspects, work environment and work organisation. Individual aspects concerned problems that workers with HL experienced in their working lives, strategies they used to manage their working lives and different aspects of health in relation to WL. Work environment focussed on the physical, organisational and social work environment. Work organisation identified aspects related to division of labour and employment status.

CONCLUSIONS

Several of the included papers revealed lots of findings but did not substantially discuss the findings from a WL perspective. HL and well-being in WL is a multidimensional phenomenon due to the interplay between the individual and the environment. This interplay is rarely discussed in the included papers. Furthermore, intersectional aspects are infrequently highlighted and need to be further explored in future research.

Can listening-related fatigue influence well-being? Examining associations between hearing loss, fatigue, activity levels and well-being

Objective

Well-being is influenced by the activities we undertake. Hearing loss may reduce well-being directly through increased listening-related fatigue due to cognitive and emotional strain in challenging situations. Hearing loss and hearing device use may also indirectly impact fatigue and well-being by altering the frequency and type of daily-life activities. This review examines the available literature to help understand the relationships.

Design

We provide (i) a summary of the extant literature regarding hearing loss, hearing device use and fatigue in adults, as well as regarding fatigue and daily-life activity (work, social and physical) and (ii) a systematic search and narrative review of the relationships between hearing loss, hearing device use and activity.

Study sample

The systematic search resulted in 66 eligible texts.

Results

Data examining well-being in persons with hearing loss are limited. Our literature review suggests that well-being can be related directly and indirectly to hearing loss, hearing device use, activity level and listening-related fatigue.

Conclusions

Variations and interactions between hearing loss, hearing device use, fatigue and activity levels can be expected to impact well-being in persons with hearing loss in direct and indirect ways. Future research linking hearing and daily-life fatigue should take account of activity levels.

Factors influencing the need for recovery in employees with hearing loss: a cross-sectional study of health administrative data

Objective

Need for recovery is a predictor of work stress and health problems, but its underlying factors are not yet well understood. We aimed to identify hearing-related, work-related, and personal factors influencing need for recovery in hearing-impaired employees.

Methods

We retrospectively identified hearing-impaired employees (N = 294) that were referred to the Amsterdam University Medical Center between 2004 and 2019. Routinely obtained healthcare data were used, including a survey and hearing assessments. A directed acyclic graph was constructed, revealing the hypothesized structure of factors influencing need for recovery as well as the minimal set of factors needed for multiple regression analysis.

Results

Four variables were included in the regression analysis. In total, 46.1% of the variance in need for recovery was explained by the factors feeling that something should change at work (B = 19.01, p < 0.001), self-perceived listening effort (B = 1.84, p < 0.001), personal adaptations scale score (B = − 0.34, p < .001), and having a moderate/poor general health condition (B = 20.06, p < 0.001). Although degree of hearing loss was associated with self-perceived listening effort, the direct association between degree of hearing loss and need for recovery was not significant.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the way employees perceive their hearing loss and how they cope with it directly influence need for recovery, rather than their measured degree of hearing loss. Additionally, general health condition was found to be an independent factor for need for recovery. The results should be confirmed by future, longitudinal research.

Hearing loss and quality of life

OBJECTIVE

We sought to identify multidimensional factors associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) for use in developing an inventory in which HRQoL is a core concept in evaluating the impact of hearing loss and the efficacy of rehabilitative interventions.

METHOD

A qualitative approach was used in which we posed two major questions to a focus group consisting of eight adults with self-reported, bilateral sensorineural hearing loss of varying degrees. In essence, those questions were: (1) How do you define quality of life?, and (2) Can you describe specific incidents in your everyday life in which your hearing loss has impacted your quality of life? The discussion was embedded within a framework that utilized a modification of the Critical Incident Technique (CIT). We used well-established analytic techniques to translate the data into unitized thought units, which we coded into meaningful categories. Response frequency was used to determine the salience of responses in addressing the research questions.

RESULTS

Participants defined QoL in terms of a number of primary dimensions, most of which were directly or indirectly associated with specific recalled incidents in which those dimensions have played a notable role in contributing to their QoL.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of well-established methods to gather and analyze qualitative data generated by self-report techniques offers a promising direction for developing a standardized inventory for identifying the factors that impact QoL for persons with hearing loss and for evaluating the success of intervention strategies aimed at improving their HRQoL.