Gayathri Kalarikkal1, G. K. Jayasree1, Malavika Puthiyadam1 , Abdul Bahis, K. V. Nisha1 , Prashanth Prabhu1
1Department of Audiology, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing, Mysore, India
Individuals with ANSD show multi-faceted ramifications of the disorder which spans many facets of life (emotional, personal and other health related issues) that are not readily apparent in conventional audiological assessment. The aim of the study was to determine the problems and life effects experienced by individuals diagnosed as ANSD. The study followed a cross sectional survey design with 12 adult ANSD participants. Responses to two open-ended questions were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework. The first question of the two open ended questions for data collection concentrated on the problems related to having ANSD and the second to its life effects. All the responses collected were linked to the corresponding ICF categories according to the ICF’s established linking rules using a simplified content analysis approach (Granberg, 2015). The results of Wilcoxon signed rank test revealed that participants had experienced more difficulties in PQ (/Z/=-2.39, p=0.02, effect size r= 0.36) than LEQ. 70 responses were obtained for problem question, 48 responses for life effects question. Most of the problems and the life effects confronted by individuals with ANSD were linked to activity limitations and participant restrictions (63/119), followed by body function (46/119) and a small number of responses related to environmental factors (9/119). The frequent number of responses related to activity limitations and participation restrictions pertained to “Communicating with—receiving—spoken messages” (d310). For body functions, “hearing functions” (b230), and “general products and technology for personal use in daily living” (e1150) occurred most under environmental factors category. Person with ANSD encounters hearing problem together with life effect problems in terms of activity limitations, participation restrictions, emotional and environmental factors which may hinder their integration to the society. The study emphasizes on person-centred approach providing a holistic model of rehabilitation to the individuals with ANSD.