Hearing Loss Survey

Introduction

Thank you in advance for your cooperation and the time granted for us.

Q1.Please enter your age:

Q2. Please indicate to your Gender

Male

Female

Q4. Please indicate your Marital Status. Are you?

Single

Engaged

Married with kids

Married without kids

Divorced with kids

Widow with kids

Separated with kids

Q5. Please indicate to your current employment status

Student

Employee

Owner of a business

Retired

Don't do any kind of work

Housewife

Other

Q6. Do either you or a member of your immediate family suffer from diagnosed hearing loss?

Yes

Q13. What age was your child when you first noticed he/she had difficulty hearing?

Q14. What were the key signs that your child was suffering from hearing loss? Choose which ones that apply to your child:

Not interacting with other children

Not understanding and following instructions

Not learning as quickly as other children

Late speech development

Not showing any reaction to sound

None, their hearing loss was picked up at birth

Q15. How old was your child when he was first Medically diagnosed with hearing loss?

At birth

Under 1 year old

2 years old

3 years old

4 years old

5 years and above

Q16. If you DID NOT GO to your GP immediately when you thought your child might have poor hearing was it because:

Other family members said they could not see anything wrong with my child’s hearing

People said my child’s behaviour was ‘just part of growing up

People said that some children learn to talk more quickly than others

I thought that they would catch up to the other children in time

I did not think that it was an issue

I did not need to go see a GP because the hospital sent me a referral following the new born hearing screening

Other:

Q17. Which of the following statements applies to you?

I regret not going earlier to a healthcare professional about my child’s hearing loss

I went to a healthcare professional as soon as I thought there was a problem

I knew there was something wrong but I was put off by what other people said

I couldn’t see anything wrong at the time. I thought my child’s development was normal

Q18. Which sound(s) do you think your child likes the most and prefer to always hear?

Favourite Cartoon

Favourite song

Parent’s voice

Friends/siblings’ calling

Story reading

Others

Q19. How much did you know about hearing loss before your child was diagnosed?

Nothing

A little bit

A lot - it runs in the family / with friends

A lot – it’s part of my job to know

Q20. Which of the following statements best describes the response of family and friends when they heard about the diagnosis?

Amazement, they did not think anything was wrong

Some people said they suspected something was wrong

Some people said hearing loss was not a serious barrier in life

Some people thought hearing loss was a major disability

Q21. If you were to make a recommendation to someone whose child might have hearing loss, which of the following would you agree with:

Get your child’s hearing checked as soon as possible by an audiologist as early treatment is always best

If you think there is something wrong, then discuss it with the school or other mums to see if they are having the same problem

Don’t panic, wait and see if there really is a problem and then go to the GP

Q22. What treatment is your child currently receiving?

Hearing aid

Hearing implant

Other:

None

Q23. If you or your child have ever experienced or used a hearing aid, which of these statements did you or your child think?

Can’t they make smaller hearing aids?

I would rather be deaf than wear one of those

Hearing aids are uncomfortable

I wouldn’t think anything. Hearing aids are no big deal

Q24. If your child DOES NOT have a hearing implant would you consider one in the future, if your child's hearing loss met the criteria?

Yes

Q26A. Has your child moved from a hearing aid to a hearing implant?

Yes

Q1. Please describe the nature and severity of your hearing loss?

Mild Hearing Loss

Moderate Hearing Loss

Severe Hearing Loss

Q2. How many people do you think hearing loss affects in the UAE?

Below 100,000

100,000 - 399,000

400,000 - 699,000

700,000-999,000

1 Million – 2 Million

2 Million- 3 Million

Above 3 million

Q3. In which of the following areas do you think people with hearing loss might not have the same opportunities as people with normal hearing

Playing sport / physical activities

Education

Employment

Social relationships

Other:

None

Q4. In your opinion, how might hearing loss affect day-to-day life?

It’s difficult to take part in sporting activity

I can’t go to the cinema

Conversation is difficult

Doing chores is difficult

Partying with friends is difficult

We have limited job prospects

It doesn’t affect life in a major way

Q5. What do you consider to be the causes of hearing loss?

Genetic – deafness is something you are born with

Trauma – accident or having something stuck in your ear

Exposure to loud music

Job/Profession e.g. construction worker

Just getting older

Inherited ailment

Other:

Q6. Please select which of the following do you believe are signs of hearing loss?

Misinterpreting what is said

Turning up the volume on the TV / Radio past normal levels

Speaking quietly all the time

Speaking loudly all the time

Can’t hear what people are saying when on the phone

Stop going out with friends/family

A child’s speech development is slower

Q7. How long do you think people wait from the time they notice their hearing is diminishing until they seek professional healthcare advice?

Immediately

Six weeks

Four months

One year

Five years

Ten years

Q8. People often wait 10 years before seeking professional advice about their hearing loss. What do you think is the major reason for people to wait so long?

I think most people don’t notice as it is a gradual process

Deafness is a sign of old age and no one likes to think of themselves as being old

No one likes to admit they have a problem

Vanity. Many people would be put off by having to wear a hearing aid

People test their hearing if they have a serious issue

Cost of treatment for a hearing aid / implant

Know someone who has a hearing aid but doesn’t use it

Nervous about surgery

Q9. How long did you wait before seeking professional medical advice for your hearing loss?

I went to the doctor immediately

Between 1 month and 6 months

Between 6 months and 1 year

Between 1 and 2 years

Between 2 and 5 years

Between 5 and 10 years

Over 10 years

I don't know / can’t answer

Q10. Which of the following statements apply to you?

I regret not going to a healthcare professional earlier about my hearing loss

I went to a healthcare professional as soon as I thought there was a problem

I knew there was something wrong but I was put off by what other people said

I couldn’t see anything wrong at the time. I thought my condition was normal

I don't know/ can’t answer

Q11. How much did you know about hearing loss before you were diagnosed?

Nothing

A little bit

A lot - it runs in the family / with friends

I don't know/ can’t answer

Q12. Which of the following statements best describes the response of family and friends when they heard about your diagnosis?

Amazement, they did not think anything was wrong

Some people said they suspected something was wrong

Some people said hearing loss was not a serious barrier in life

Some people thought hearing loss was a major disability

I don't know/ can’t answer

Q1. Please list what you believe are treatments for hearing loss? (Please list all treatments that you are aware of)

Q2. What treatment are you currently receiving?

Hearing aid

Hearing implant

Other:

None

Q3. If you have ever experienced or used a hearing aid / or implant – audio processor, which of these statements is relevant to you?

Can’t they make smaller hearing aids?

I would rather be deaf than wear one of those

Hearing aids are uncomfortable

I wouldn’t think anything. Hearing aids are no big deal

I have never experienced or used a hearing aid

Q4. If you have suffered hearing loss have you tried non-medical remedies at home?

Yes

Q7. If you DO NOT have a hearing implant would you consider one in the future if your hearing loss met the right criteria?

Yes

Q9A. Have you moved from having a hearing aid to a hearing implant?

Yes

Q2. How many people do you think hearing loss affects in the UAE?

Below 100,000

100,000 - 399,000

400,000 - 699,000

700,000-999,000

1 Million – 2 Million

2 Million- 3 Million

Above 3 million

Q3. What do you consider to be the causes of hearing loss?

Genetic – deafness is something you are born with

Trauma – accident or having something stuck in your ear

Exposure to loud music

Job/Profession e.g. construction worker

Just getting older

Inherited ailment

Other:

Q4. Please select which of the following do you believe are signs of hearing loss?

Misinterpreting what is said

Turning up the volume on the TV / Radio past normal levels

Speaking quietly all the time

Speaking loudly all the time

Can’t hear what people are saying when on the phone

Stop going out with friends/family

A child’s speech development is slower

Q5. If you had hearing loss, what would you do?

Visit my GP

Ignore it until it starts affecting my everyday life

Visit a hearing aid shop with the hope that my hearing will go back to normal soon

Nothing

Q6. What sound would you miss the most if you could no longer hear? (Please list only one)

Q8. Which 3 everyday situations would be affected the most if you could no longer hear? (Please select three ONLY)

Conversation with my friends / loved ones

Communicating with my children

Family dynamics during mealtimes

Office dialogue

Not being able to hear someone in another room

Meetings/employment interviews

Parties / social situations

Relaxing with TV/Radio

Q9. Which of the following would concern you the most if you lost your hearing?

Social isolation

Personal safety risks

Frustration at communication difficulties

Feeling of inadequacy in everyday interactions

Fearing of being ridiculed and or/embarrassed

I wouldn't have any concerns

Q10. How long do you think do you think people wait from the time they notice their hearing is diminishing until they seek professional healthcare advice?

Immediately

Six weeks

Four months

One year

Five years

Ten years

Q11. People often wait 10 years before seeking professional advice about their hearing loss. What do you think is the major reason for people to wait so long?

I think most people don’t notice as it is a gradual process

Deafness is a sign of old age and no one likes to think of themselves as being old

No one likes to admit they have a problem

Vanity. Many people would be put off by having to wear a hearing aid

People test their hearing if they have a serious issue

Cost of treatment for a hearing aid / implant

They know someone who has a hearing aid but doesn’t use it

They are nervous about surgery

Q12. Do you know anyone who you believe has a problem with hearing?

Yes

Q14. What is your attitude to their hearing loss?

I get fed up repeating things

It is difficult to understand them

I tend to shout when speaking to them

It can be hard work to socialise with them

I have told them to go get their hearing loss tested

I don’t talk to them as much anymore

There is no problem communicating with them

Q15. In which of the following areas do you think people with hearing loss might not have the same opportunities as people with normal hearing:

Playing sport / physical activities

Education

Employment

Social relationships

None (they are not disadvantaged)

Q16. Which of the following statements would you agree with?

I would be slightly put off making friends with someone who was deaf

I would be put off making friends with someone who was deaf

I would not be put off making friends with someone who was deaf

Q17. Would you be hesitant to enter into a personal relation with somebody being hard of hearing?

Yes

Q19. If you see someone with a hearing aid, which of these statements might you think?

Can’t they make smaller hearing aids?

I would rather be deaf than wear one of those

Hearing aids are uncomfortable

I wouldn’t think anything. Hearing aids are no big deal

Q20. In your opinion, how might someone’s hearing loss affect their day-to-day life?

It’s difficult for them to take part in sporting activity

They can’t go to the cinema

Conversation is difficult

They have limited job prospects

It is difficult for them to make friends

It doesn’t affect life in a major way

Q21. Please list what you believe are treatments for hearing loss?