Use and effectiveness of speech-reading and self-evaluation of hearing in persons with unilateral hearing loss

Abstract

We compared the results of the speech-reading test in 4 persons with unilateral hearing loss (UHL) and 20 persons with normal hearing. We interviewed the persons with UHL regarding speech-reading usage and coping with hearing difficulties. The persons with UHL were asked to evaluate the difficulties in their daily lives themselves. In the results of the speech-reading test, there were no differences in the scores between the persons with UHL and those with normal hearing. According to the interview, there were differences among the individuals with UHL in the speech-reading skills and usages and in coping with their hearing difficulties. Individuals with poor speech-reading skills did not routinely use speech-reading, dealt with their hearing difficulties negatively, and assigned themselves poor scores for their difficulties in conversation. Based on the above findings, we conclude that it is necessary to provide guidance, tailored to each case, to individuals with UHL to cope with their hearing difficulties.