Hearing Impairment, Sense of Humour and Communication Strategies

Table 1. 

MalesFemalesNumbern188155AgeMean (in years)68.070.1SD13.514.2Level of education^†7–10 years8490^*11–13 years6434>13 years4029AudiologicalDegree of HI^‡Mean (in dB)42.045.0SD16.616.8Previous HA^§ experiencen (yes/no)8486^*%4455Sensorineural HI^‡n (yes/no)178133%9586Tinnitusn (yes/no)8154%4335Experienced duration of HI^‡Mean (in years)15.015.0SD13.016.0^*Level of significance between genders; p<0.05.^†No information on two subjects.^‡HI = hearing impairment.^§HA = hearing aid.

Table 2. 

AgeTotal (n=343)Males (n=188)Females (n = 155)20–4917.62.616.92.618.72.250–6917.52.517.32.517.82.570–7916.72.716.72.716.62.6≥8016.32.515.72.516.72.4Total17.0^*2.616.72.617.22.6^*ANOVA; p<0.01 (F 4.756, df 3), post hoc analysis by LSD; decreased mean score between the age categories 50–69 and 70–79 years (p<0.05). LSD: t-test for the comparison of pairs (in one-way ANOVA).

Table 3. 

HITotal (n=343)Males (n=188)Females (n=155)VerbalNon-verbalMaladaptiveVerbalNon-verbalMaladaptiveVerbalNonverbalMal-adaptiveNormal2.50.93.11.04.30.62.51.02.81.04.40.52.60.93.31.04.30.7Mild2.50.83.21.04.30.52.50.83.21.14.30.52.50.83.31.04.30.5Moderate2.70.83.41.04.00.62.60.73.31.04.10.62.80.93.61.04.00.7Severe/profound2.91.03.51.03.70.73.01.23.41.03.70.82.70.93.81.03.70.7Total2.6^*0.93.31.04.1^†0.62.60.83.21.04.2^‡0.62.70.93.51.04.1^§0.7^*ANOVA; p<0.05 (F 2.702, df 3), post hoc analysis by LSD; increased mean score between the hearing impairment (HI) categories mild and moderate (p<0.05).^†ANOVA; p<0.001(F 11.397, df 3), post hoc analysis by LSD; decreased mean score by increased HI, except between categories normal and mild HI (p<0.05).^‡ANOVA; p<0.001(F 6.980, df 3), post hoc analysis by LSD; decreased mean score by increased HI, except between categories normal and mild HI (p<0.05).^§ANOVA; p<0.01 (F 4.765, df 3), post hoc analysis by LSD; decreased mean score between the HI categories mild and moderate (p<0.05).LSD: t-test for the comparison of pairs (in one-way ANOVA).

Table 4. 

βStandard Errorp-valueVerbal strategies^†Age−0.0090.0030.010Degree of HI^¶0.0060.0030.049HA^** experience0.1840.1060.082Non-verbal strategies^‡Gender0.2880.1070.007Age−0.0140.004<0.001Experienced duration of HI^¶0.0100.0040.011HA^** experience0.3800.1070.001Maladaptive behaviour^§Age0.0050.0030.063Sense of humour0.0260.0130.047Degree of HI^¶−0.0100.002<0.001Experienced duration of HI^¶−0.0070.0020.006^*All multivariable regression analyses were performed by the Enter method and variables with p<0.10 were kept in the models.^†Adjusted R² for model = 4.5%.^‡Adjusted R² for model = 11.7%.^§Adjusted R² for model = 13.2%.^¶HI = hearing impairment.^**HA = hearing aid.