Quality of life for Preschool Children Suffering from Hearing Impairment in Rural Area

Said Mohamed Khawwas, Heba; Khirat Elgendy, Faten; Mohamed Hassan, Mervet

doi:10.21608/ejhc.2021.256662

Quality of life for Preschool Children Suffering from Hearing Impairment in Rural Area

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ B.Sc. of Nursing, Year 2010 Ain Shams University, Faculty of Nursing-Cairo-Egypt.

² Professor of Community Nursing, Ain Shams University, Faculty of Nursing-Cairo-Egypt.

³ Lecturer of Community Nursing, Ain Shams University, Faculty of Nursing-Cairo-Egypt.

10.21608/ejhc.2021.256662

Abstract

Background: Preschool children hearing impairment is considered one of the most prevalent
global health concerns. Early identification and intervention of hearing impairment may have
lifelong effects on the child’s life. Aim of the study: to assess quality of life for Preschool Children
Suffering from hearing Impairment. Design: A descriptive design was utilized in this study. Setting:
The study was carried at outpatient audio clinics of Elmenofeya University Hospital, Health
insurance clinics, special speech clinics and audio clinic. Sample: Purposive sample used in this
study. They were 308 students; 161 male and 147female.predetremind inclusion criteria (The age
from 3 < 6 years (pre-school age), Free from any other health problem. Study tool: The data for this
study were collected by using two tools: Tool I: structured interview questionnaire: it consisted of
Part 1: socio-demographic characteristics for children. Part 2: socio-demographic characteristics of
mothers. Part 3: Past and present medical history of the children. Part 4: knowledge of mothers
about hearing impairment. Tool II: Practice of mothers regarding hearing impairment. Tool III:
Assessment of the quality of life of preschool children with hearing impairment. Results: it was
found near to half of the preschool children was aged from 5 to 6 years, more than half of them were
male, more than half of them were going to nursery, more than one third of children's mothers were
Secondary education, near to half of them reported that the cause of the hearing impairment was
Inflammation in the middle ear, more than half of the preschool children used Medical hearing aids,
majority of the preschool children had speech problem, more than half of them had Consanguinity
between parents, more than half of the mothers had unsatisfactory knowledge about hearing
impairment, that only less than One-third of the mothers had good practice that improve the
communication skills and their behavior, near to half of the preschool children had average quality
of life. Conclusion: There was significant relation between health problems of preschool children
with hearing impairment and their quality of life, also there was significant relation between socio-
demographic characteristics and health problems of preschool children with hearing impairment.
Recommendation: health education program to increase the mother’s knowledge, improve their
practice, and teach them the importance of early treatment and language training.

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