Self reported hearing difficulties following excision of vestibular schwannoma

Beth McLeod*, Laurie Upfold, Alan Taylor

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)420-430
Number of pages11
JournalInternational Journal of Audiology
Volume47
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2008

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