Does having a job improve the quality of life among post-lingually deafened Swedish adults with severe-profound hearing impairment?

The purpose of the present study was to measure health-related quality of life (HRQL), personal harmony and work-induced problems, and to identify typical personal traits among Swedish adults with a severe-profound hearing impairment who were employed full-time. In comparison with hearing people aged <65 years, the hearing-impaired individuals working full-time differed only as regards energy and social isolation. Compared to another group of hearing-impaired subjects (working either part-time or retired) the study group scored better on most dimensions. Personal harmony of the hearing-impaired group working full-time did not differ from that of average employed Swedish people. The work situation of the group was generally reported to be busy but rewarding, especially concerning contact with fellow workers and management. Among various personal traits examined, strong will-power and stress tolerance were the most significant. However, due to the small sample size, it is not possible to state that the results indicate a general situation or were just due to the study subjects constituting an elite sample of hearing-impaired individuals.