Parent-reported health-related quality of life in children with congenital hearing loss: A population study

Abstract

Objective. - To report 1) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in 7- to 8-year-old children with congenital hearing loss and 2) effects of severity and age of diagnosis on parent-reported child HRQoL. Methods. - Setting: State of Victoria, Australia. Design: Two population-based cohorts of 7- to 8-year-old children. Participants: Cohort 1 consisted of 83 children (51 boys) fitted with hearing aids or cochlear implants for congenital hearing loss by 4.5 years, born before universal newborn hearing screening, and without intellectual disability (the Children with Hearing Impairment in Victoria Outcome Study). Cohort 2 consisted of 895 children representative of the Victorian 7- to 8-year-old..