Personality Factors as Correlates of Perceived Quality of Life among Adolescents with Hearing Impairment in Selected Secondary Schools in Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated personality factors that predict perceived quality of life among adolescents with hearing impairment in selected secondary schools in Lagos state, Nigeria. Seventy five adolescents with hearing impairment participated in the study. The participants were drawn from four special secondary schools meant for students with hearing impairment. Three (3) research questions were generated for the study. The Rosenberg self-esteem Scale, World Health Organization (WHO) Quality of life scale and the Washington University School of medicine quality of life questionnaire for adolescents were used for data collection. Data generated was analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The study revealed a composite influence of independent variable-personality factors (self esteem, gender and onset of hearing loss) accounted for 14% of variation on the perceived quality of life among adolescents with hearing impairment. The study also found that the onset of hearing loss has significant relative influence on perceived quality of life among adolescents with hearing impairment (? = -0.275; t = -2.429; p<0.05) but gender has no significant relative influence on perceived quality of life among adolescents with hearing impairment (? = 0.004; t = 0.036; p>0.05). Based on the findings, it is recommended that it is recommended that parents should report to professionals in the field of special education or those in medical the birth emergence or the development of any sudden hearing problem to any of their wards/children for early intervention programmes formulated for such a child to minimize the effect and burden which the hearing impairment placed on the shoulder of the person suffering from it. The curriculum developer should bear in mind the presence of hearing impaired in all our schools and so should develop curriculum that is hearing impaired friendly.

Keywords: Hearing impairment, quality of life, adolescents.