The impact of sensorineural hearing loss of various etiologies on quality of life and social functioning

Sensorineural hearing loss (SHL) is a common polyetiological disease that is associated with a significant decrease in social activity, difficulties in interpersonal communication, and can significantly reduce the quality of life of patients. Purpose: to investigate the impact of SHL of various etiologies on the quality of life and social functioning of patients. Materials and methods. 100 people with an average age of 49.60±1.59 years were examined, with a predominance of men (71%). SHL in 52 was due to acubarotrauma, in 48 — vascular causes. Acute onset was determined in 60%, chronic form — in 40%. The comparison group consisted of 20 patients without hearing damage. All patients underwent a complete neurological, somatic and otoneurological examination, consultation of an audiologist, audiometry, brain neuroimaging. Quality of life was assessed using the SF-36 questionnaire (Short Form Health Survey), anxiety level according to the Spielberger — Hanin test. Results. The results of the assessment of social functioning and quality of life according to the eight scales of the SF-36 questionnaire demonstrated statistically significant differences between the main study group and the control group in their psycho-emotional state, namely on the scales of emotional well-being and role limitations due to emotional problems, the indicators of which were better in the control group (without hearing impairment) compared to the patients of the main group. The most unfavorable and differentiated profile of the lesion according to the domains of the SF-36 is inherent in hearing loss of vascular genesis. With acubarotraumatic etiology, the negative impact on the quality of life is more selective, focusing mainly on the psycho-emotional sphere, with relative preservation of the physical and pain components. The decrease in emotional well-being was accompanied by changes in the psycho-emotional sphere in the form of increased situational anxiety. Conclusions. SHL is associated with a marked deterioration in the psychoemotional components of quality of life and a significant negative impact of emotional difficulties on everyday role functioning, regardless of physical health status. The most pronounced manifestations of situational anxiety are characteristic of patients with acute onset of SHL.

References

1. Chadha S., Al-Azri A., Amenuke M. (2021) World report on hearing. World Health Organization, 99(4): 242–242A. doi: 10.2471/BLT.21.285643.
2. Vlajkovic S.M., Thorne P.R. (2021) Molecular Mechanisms of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Development of Inner Ear Therapeutics. Int. J. Mol. Sci., 22(11): 5647. doi: 10.3390/ijms22115647.
3. Zozulya I.S., Volosovets A.O., Zozulya A.I. (2022) Injuries of the skull and brain: diagnosis and emergency medical care at the different stages of evacuation. UMJ, 5: 69–74. doi:10.32471/umj.1680-3051.151.234471.
4. Halushka A., Podolian Y., Shvets A. et al. (2019) Retrospective analysis of acutrauma symptoms spreading among wounded and sick ATO (JFO) members. Ukr. J. Military Med., 19(2): 17–24. ujmm.org.ua/index.php/journal/article/view/67.
5. Myers E.E., Joseph A.R., Dougherty A.L. et al. (2023) Relationship Between Tinnitus and Hearing Outcomes Among US Military Personnel After Blast Injury. Ear. Hear, 44(2): 300–305. doi: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001285.
6. Gioacchini F.M., Pisani D., Viola P. et al. (2023) Diabetes Mellitus and Hearing Loss: A Complex Relationship. Medicina (Kaunas), 59(2): 269. doi: 10.3390/medicina59020269.
7. Härkönen K., Kivekäs I., Rautiainen M. et al. (2017) Quality of life and hearing eight years after sudden sensorineural hearing loss. The Laryngoscope, 127(4): 927–931. doi.org/10.1002/lary.26133.
8. Cao X., Liu Q., Liu J. et al. (2023) The impact of hearing loss on cognitive impairment: the mediating role of depressive symptoms and the moderating role of social relationships. Front. Publ. Health, 11. doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1149769.
9. Henderson N., Hodgson S., Mulhern B. et al. (2025) Qualitative systematic review of the impact of hearing loss on quality of life. Quality of Life Research, 34(4): 879–892. doi.org/10.1007/s11136-024-03851-5.
10. Heeren A., Bernstein E.E., McNally R.J. (2018) Deconstructing trait anxiety: A network perspective. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 31(3): 262–276. doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2018.1439263.
11. Punch J.L., Hitt R., Smith S.W. (2019) Hearing loss and quality of life. J. Communication Disord., 78: 33–45. doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2019.01.001.
12. Ghazaryan V., Sutton A.E., De Jong R. (2025) Acute Acoustic Trauma. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publ.
13. Huang A.R., Morales E.G., Arnold M.L. et al. (2024) A Hearing Intervention and Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Secondary Analysis of the ACHIEVE Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open, 7(11). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.46591.
14. Faiyaz F., Kumar Verma P., Singh R.A. (2025) Clinical Study Of Different Causes & Quality Of Life In Unilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss. J. Neonatal. Surg., 14(30S): 1071–1077. http://www.jneonatalsurg.com/index.php/jns/article/view/8471.