Perda auditiva, handicap e locus de controle em pacientes adultos que não aderem ao uso de aparelho auditivo

Abstract

Hearing is one of the most important senses of man, as it allows communication between people, in addition to participating in the formation of the imaginary, building and evoking memory events and triggering the other senses.. However, at any stage of life, man can suffer hearing loss, which can be classified according to its form of manifestation, origin and severity according to mild, moderate, severe and profound degrees. Objective: To verify the relationship between level of perception of hearing impairment and locus of health control in adults with hearing loss who use hearing aids and individuals that no adhere to use of these electronic devices. Method: Cross-sectional study with a control group, with adults with acquired hearing loss, of any type and degree, uni or bilateral, candidates for use of hearing aids. The sample consisted of adult patients with hearing loss, seen at private hearing center in São José do Rio Preto, between January 2019 and June 2020, that no adhere to use of electronic device. The control group consisted of individuals with hearing loss who adhered to use of hearing aid, paired by sex and age with the patients in case group. For data collection, a form containing patients' clinical and demographic variables was used; the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults (HHIA) questionnaire, translated and validated for Brazil; and the Health Control Locus Scale (ELCS). Clinical and demographic variables were used to describe profile of the patients. Scores were calculated for HHIA general (sum of points for the 25 items) and for each of subscales (emotional and social); and for ELCS - subscales “internality”, “other powerful” and “chance”. Then, the association between variables was verified, using Chi-Square and Fisher's Exact tests. The significance level was 95% (p≤0.05). Results: Sixty individuals with hearing loss were evaluated, 30 from case group (did not adhere to use of hearing aid) and 30 controls (individuals with hearing loss, with adherence to use of hearing aid). Age ranged from 28 to 65 years, with a mean of 48.9 years (standard deviation: 11.39 years). The number of male individuals was significantly higher in the case group (73.33%) and lower in the control group (43.33%) (p = 0.019). In group of individuals that no adhere to use of hearing aid, there was a predominance of asymmetric loss between the ears, while in control group the symmetry in degree of hearing loss was statistically greater. In both groups there was a predominance of moderate hearing loss for both the right and left ears. In the group of cases, the absence of handicap for both the Emotional HHIA and the Situational HHIA predominated. In control group, these variables demonstrate a predominance of light to moderate handicap. No significant differences were found in the results of Scale of Dimensions of the Locus of Control in Health, between the groups. Conclusion: The perception of the restriction of social participation in individuals with hearing loss is not related to type or degree of hearing loss, not to attitude of using or not using a hearing aid.