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Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported physical and mental disorders among adults with hearing loss in Denmark: a national survey

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Existing research shows that people with hearing loss have a high risk of additional physical and mental disorders. However, only a few population-based studies have been conducted. This study assesses the prevalence and characteristics of additional disorders among adults with hearing loss in Denmark and thereby contributes a population-based study to this area of research.

Method

Data on self-reported physical and mental disorders from a national survey of 772 adults with hearing loss were compared to corresponding data from a national survey of 18,017 adults from the general population.

Results

People with hearing loss reported more physical and mental disorders than the general population. Specifically, they reported higher incidences of visual impairment, cerebral palsy, intellectual impairment, and “other mental disorders”.

Conclusion

Adults with hearing loss have a greater risk of additional physical and mental disorders. It is important for clinicians to have some understanding of the communication needs and characteristics of deaf and hard-of-hearing patients, so that they can recognize and treat symptoms and provide appropriate support.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Danish National Centre for Social Research (SFI), Steen Bengtsson, Lena Bech Larsen and Mette Lindsay Sommer for access to the data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 2a, 1353, Copenhagen K, Denmark

    Jesper Dammeyer

  2. Danish School of Education, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark

    Madeleine Chapman

Authors
  1. Jesper Dammeyer
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  2. Madeleine Chapman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jesper Dammeyer.

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Ethical standards

The study was performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the 1964 Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments. All persons gave their informed consent prior to their inclusion in the study.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Dammeyer, J., Chapman, M. Prevalence and characteristics of self-reported physical and mental disorders among adults with hearing loss in Denmark: a national survey. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 52, 807–813 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1397-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-017-1397-6

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