Susen Lailach1, Tina Schenke2, Ingo Baumann3, Hannah Walter3, Mark Praetorius3, Thomas Beleites2, Thomas Zahnert2, Marcus Neudert2. 1. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, Technische Universität Dresden, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Saxony, Germany. susen.lailach@uniklinikum-dresden.de. 2. Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck surgery, Technische Universität Dresden, Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Saxony, Germany. 3. Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 672, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Otosclerosis is associated with hearing disability, leading to communication deficits and social and psychological restrictions. The objective of our study was to analyze disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after stapes surgery and compare the outcome of HRQOL with audiometric parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our clinical case study was conducted at two tertiary referral centers. All the 37 patients who had undergone stapes surgery were analyzed clinically and by audiometric testing (pure tone and speech audiometry) in the pre- and postoperative settings. Disease-specific HRQOL was assessed by the validated Stapesplasty Outcome Test 25 (SPOT-25) pre- and postoperatively. The subjective hearing disability was evaluated by the hearing handicap inventory for adults (HHIA). The postinterventional benefit was measured by the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). RESULTS: Disease-specific HRQOL improved significantly after stapes surgery in all scales of the SPOT-25. Postoperatively, the total score and the subscore "hearing function" correlated well with the audiometric data. The subscores "tinnitus", "social restrictions", and "mental condition" did not show significant association with audiometric parameters. The comparison of pre- and postoperative HHIA offered a significant improvement in the hearing disability. The scores of the HHIA correlated very well with the audiometric data. The GBI showed a postoperative benefit for each individual patient. CONCLUSION: Stapes surgery leads to a significant improvement in the hearing handicap and of disease-specific HRQOL. The audiometric parameters were shown as not being a sufficient indicator of social and mental well-being. HRQOL outcome measuring instruments should be used routinely in clinical practice to provide an individualized postoperative assessment.
INTRODUCTION:Otosclerosis is associated with hearing disability, leading to communication deficits and social and psychological restrictions. The objective of our study was to analyze disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) after stapes surgery and compare the outcome of HRQOL with audiometric parameters. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Our clinical case study was conducted at two tertiary referral centers. All the 37 patients who had undergone stapes surgery were analyzed clinically and by audiometric testing (pure tone and speech audiometry) in the pre- and postoperative settings. Disease-specific HRQOL was assessed by the validated Stapesplasty Outcome Test 25 (SPOT-25) pre- and postoperatively. The subjective hearing disability was evaluated by the hearing handicap inventory for adults (HHIA). The postinterventional benefit was measured by the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI). RESULTS: Disease-specific HRQOL improved significantly after stapes surgery in all scales of the SPOT-25. Postoperatively, the total score and the subscore "hearing function" correlated well with the audiometric data. The subscores "tinnitus", "social restrictions", and "mental condition" did not show significant association with audiometric parameters. The comparison of pre- and postoperative HHIA offered a significant improvement in the hearing disability. The scores of the HHIA correlated very well with the audiometric data. The GBI showed a postoperative benefit for each individual patient. CONCLUSION: Stapes surgery leads to a significant improvement in the hearing handicap and of disease-specific HRQOL. The audiometric parameters were shown as not being a sufficient indicator of social and mental well-being. HRQOL outcome measuring instruments should be used routinely in clinical practice to provide an individualized postoperative assessment.
Entities:
Keywords:
Conductive hearing loss; Health-related quality of life; Hearing outcome; Otosclerosis; Stapes surgery