Functioning, Disability, and Quality of Life in the Adult Hearing Impaired

Specific Objectives with Projected Timetable:

1. . Short-term objectives:

2. . To measure the effects of audiological intervention on selected domain specific (i.e., Communicative, Interpersonal, and Social roles) and overall functioning using the WHO-DAS II, a generic health measure conceptually grounded in the International Classification of Impairment, Disability, and Handicap (ICIDH)-2 model of disablement and functioning (WHO, 1999).

3. . To measure the effects of audiological intervention on selected category specific (i.e., Role Functioning-Emotional and Social Functioning) and overall functioning using the MOS-SF36V, a generic health measure currently utilized in the Veterans Health Administration.

4. . To determine the accuracy with which measures of audibility (SII), hearing handicap (HHIE), and, hearing disability (APHAB) predict domain specific and overall functioning, and life-satisfaction as measured by the WHO-DAS II and the MOS-SF36V will be evaluated.

5. . To compare hearing aid treatment effects as measured by changes in WHO-DAS II domain specific and overall functioning scores to those measured by changes in disease specific instruments examining similar constructs.

6. . To compare hearing aid treatment effects as measured by changes in MOS-SF36V domain specific and overall functioning scores to those measured by changes in disease specific instruments examining similar constructs.

7. . To determine and compare cost-effectiveness of hearing aid intervention as calculated using WHO-DAS II and MOS-SF36V outcome data.

8. . Long-term objective: To compare the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of audiologic intervention with those of other health care interventions commonly associated with the veteran population (e.g. mental health, cardiology, pulmonary, orthopedic, etc.).