TY - JOUR
T1 - Self reported hearing difficulties following excision of vestibular schwannoma
AU - McLeod, Beth
AU - Upfold, Laurie
AU - Taylor, Alan
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - A new questionnaire, developed to investigate self-reported hearing difficulties in unilateral deafness, was completed by 221 post-surgical vestibular schwannoma patients. Results were compared to a group of 51 normal hearers and 12 patients with severe unilateral deafness from other causes. The vestibular schwannoma patients rated their post surgical hearing as profoundly deaf in the operated ear, and worse than pre-surgical in the other. Factor analysis of the results revealed a general hearing factor and five factors, indirect listening, direct listening, face-to-face listening, noise and distance, and localization, representing performance in specific listening situations. Two factors, direct listening and face-to-face listening have not been commented upon previously in the literature. No differences were found between the hearing-impaired groups on any of the factors. Both groups gave ratings significantly worse than the normal hearers on all factors, and rated themselves worst on indirect listening, in which speech comes from the impaired side. It was concluded that severe unilateral deafness is a significant disability, requiring more attention in clinical practice, particularly with pre-surgical vestibular schwannoma patients.
AB - A new questionnaire, developed to investigate self-reported hearing difficulties in unilateral deafness, was completed by 221 post-surgical vestibular schwannoma patients. Results were compared to a group of 51 normal hearers and 12 patients with severe unilateral deafness from other causes. The vestibular schwannoma patients rated their post surgical hearing as profoundly deaf in the operated ear, and worse than pre-surgical in the other. Factor analysis of the results revealed a general hearing factor and five factors, indirect listening, direct listening, face-to-face listening, noise and distance, and localization, representing performance in specific listening situations. Two factors, direct listening and face-to-face listening have not been commented upon previously in the literature. No differences were found between the hearing-impaired groups on any of the factors. Both groups gave ratings significantly worse than the normal hearers on all factors, and rated themselves worst on indirect listening, in which speech comes from the impaired side. It was concluded that severe unilateral deafness is a significant disability, requiring more attention in clinical practice, particularly with pre-surgical vestibular schwannoma patients.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=46049093981&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/14992020802033083
DO - 10.1080/14992020802033083
M3 - Article
C2 - 18574780
AN - SCOPUS:46049093981
SN - 1499-2027
VL - 47
SP - 420
EP - 430
JO - International Journal of Audiology
JF - International Journal of Audiology
IS - 7
ER -