QUALITY OF LIFE OF ADULTS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN

Relevance. Hearing loss is one of the leading causes of reduced quality of life and disability among adults. In post-Soviet countries, including Kazakhstan, hearing disability is primarily determined by medical criteria, which may lead to an underestimation of the social and psychological consequences of even mild or moderate hearing loss.

Objective. To assess the quality of life of adults with hearing loss in the Republic of Kazakhstan using hearing-specific instruments – the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults – and to analyze the relationship between audiometric hearing loss severity and subjectively perceived hearing-related limitations.

Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 48 respondents aged ≥18 years with audiometrically confirmed hearing loss. QoL was assessed using the Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults and the Elderly. Descriptive statistics and correlation analysis were applied.

Results. The mean total Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults and the Elderly score of 62.4 ± 15.3 indicated a severe perceived functional limitation. More than 65 % of participants demonstrated a marked reduction in QoL (≥43 points), including individuals with mild and moderate hearing loss. A statistically significant correlation was found between hearing loss severity and the total Hearing Handicap Inventory for Adults and the Elderly score (ρ = 0.74; p < 0.001), as well as between age and the degree of hearing handicap (ρ = 0.49; p < 0.001).

Conclusion. Hearing loss has a significant negative impact on the QoL of adults in Kazakhstan, regardless of official disability status. The use of hearing-specific questionnaires allows identification of the hidden burden of the condition and should be integrated into clinical and medico-social practice.

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