Parents’ perceptions of social communication and health-related quality of life in school-aged children with mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss

Purpose This study investigated the parent-reported social communication, structural language and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of school-aged children with mild bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (MBHL). The study also investigated the relationship between communication and HRQoL, agreement between proxy- and self-reported HRQoL, and associations with demographic variables.Method The sample included 16 children aged 9–12 with MBHL. Parents completed the Children’s Communication Checklist Second Edition and Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL). Results were compared with normative or published data from children with typical hearing (TH).Results On average, participants performed in the typical range for communication and HRQoL. One child displayed significant communication difficulties, and four children were “at risk” of poor HRQoL. Agreement between proxy- and self-reported HRQoL was poor. Collectively, parents overestimated their children’s HRQoL. No significant associations were found between communication and HRQoL. Higher age at diagnosis and later amplification were associated with better parent reported HRQoL.Conclusion Collectively, participants demonstrated communication and HRQoL within expected range. However, substantial individual variability was observed, with some at risk of compromised outcomes. This supports the need for individualised monitoring and management. Larger studies are required to guide evidence-based management of children with MBHL.