Investigation of health status and quality of life of children with hearing disabilities and their relationship with children's demographic characteristics

Hearing disorders are the most common congenital birth defects. Deaf children suffer from some physical problems in addition to mental and social problems. The purpose of this study was to examine the health status and children’s quality of life with hearing disabilities and their relationship with childrenchr('39')s demographic characteristics

This descriptive-analytical study was performed on all children with hearing disabilities covered by Welfare Organization in northern Khuzestan province in the year 2018. They included 44 children aged 1-6 years. Physical examinations of children were performed with the assistance of a physician at the same time as the questionnaires were completed. TAPQOL (Preschool Childrenchr('39')s Quality of Life TNO-AZL) (1-6 years)( Fekkes, 2000) questionnaire was used to collect data while assessing health status and important health indicators.

The majority of children (61%) had moderate health behavior in this study. The BMI of 70 % of children was more than normal. The mean score of children’s quality of life in this study was 79.13 ± 14.48 and the lowest was in the dimension of social growth. The results showed that there was a significant relationship between the health behaviors of 5-6 years old children and the number of family children (P <0.001 and r = - 0.69).  Also, results showed, with increased fatherchr('39')s education, children’s BMI was closer to normal (P = 0.026, r = - 0.33). In this study, a significant relationship was obtained between the age of the child and the age of the father with the children’s quality of life score. (0.35 = r).

Overweight of children, a relative decline in childrenchr('39')s social development, and having many children in the family also reduces the children’s quality of life at an earlier age were problems of families in this study. In examining individual characteristics, the role of fathers in the health and children’s quality of life was important. According to the results of this study can be useful in improving the quality of health of these children during the implementation of these programs by health officials.