Assessment of Depressive Symptoms in Deaf Persons

Abstract

Background: Evidence suggests that Deaf people may have a greater prevalence of depressive symptoms. However, it is unclear whether commonly used written screening instruments are accurate with this population because of their unique cultural and linguistic factors.Setting: Deaf persons (n ‫؍‬ 71) residing in southeastern Michigan. Methods: Subjects completed the Zung Self-Rated Depression Scale in both the written (ZSDS-W) and American Sign Language (ZSDS-S) formats and the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAM-D) in American Sign Language in counterbalanced order, followed by a Test Of Reading Comprehension (TORC). They also provided extensive data on demographic, hearing loss, language use, social and health care use variables.Results: Mean subject age was 52 years, 63% of subjects were women, 95% were Caucasian, and 47% were married (87% to another deaf/hard of hearing person). Thirty percent had a college degree and 20% had less than a 10th grade education. The ZSDS-W and ZSDS-S scores were highly correlated (r ‫؍‬ ؉0.79), although the mean ZSDS-W score was 2.8 points higher (P ‫؍‬ .001). The ZSDS-S correlated more highly (r ‫؍‬ 0.80) with the HAM-D than the ZSDS-W (r ‫؍‬ 0.71). There was a significant interaction effect (P < .001) such that the ZSDS-W and HAM-D were significantly associated among higher literacy subjects (␤ ‫؍‬ 0.80, P < .001) but not lower literacy subjects (␤ ‫؍‬ 0.20, P ‫؍‬ .183). There were no other significant associations between depression scores and numerous demographic, educational, hearing loss, social or language variables.

Sensorimotor Modulation of Mood and Depression: In Search of an Optimal Mode of Stimulation

“…Support for the mood regulatory effect of auditory stimulation is provided by several studies that show a positive correlation between problems of hearing and depressive symptoms. Depression is more prevalent in patients with inner ear disorders than in healthy controls (Berrios et al, 1988) and, in general, an increased rate of depressive symptoms is observed in people with hearing impairment or total deafness (Magilvy, 1985; Leigh et al, 1989; Watt and Davis, 1991; Steinberg et al, 1998; Leigh and Anthony-Tolbert, 2001; Zazove et al, 2006). Furthermore, tinnitus, a hearing disorder, is significantly correlated with depression (Stephens and Halam, 1985; Sullivan et al, 1988; Budd and Pugh, 1995; Langguth et al, 2011).…”

Symptoms of Anxiety, Depression and Attitudes Toward Justice in the World in a Sample of Deaf and Blind Persons in Osijek Baranja Region

“…Osobe sa stečenim gubitkom sluha, premda se također mogu koristiti znakovnim jezikom, obično su u mogućnosti čitati te ih je moguće ispitati standardnim upitnicima za procjenu psihijatrijskih simptoma. Primjena upitnika prevedenih na znakovni jezik čak je i u takvih ispitanika uspješna u mjerenju simptoma psihijatrijskih bolesti, no ostaje upitna racionalnost primjene upitnika standardiziranih na znakovni jezik, budući da je pisanim upitnicima također moguće adekvatno procijeniti depresivne i druge simptome (6).…”

“…The use of questionnaires translated to sign language is successful in assessing psychiatric symptoms even in those patients. However, the use of questionnaires standardized for sign language remains questionable since written questionnaires also provide the possibility of adequately assessing the symptoms of depression, as well as other symptoms (6).…”

Rotina de procedimentos utilizados na seleção e adaptação de aparelhos de amplificação sonora individual em centros auditivos na cidade de Porto Alegre, Brasil - RS

“…Esta dificuldade apresenta características psicológicas como retração, pessimismo, isolamento, frustração e o bem estar emocional prejudicado, mobilidade reduzida e comunicação interpessoal diminuída 9 . Conforme estudos realizados, há evidências de que a perda auditiva em função do envelhecimento humano tem grande prevalência nos sintomas de depressão e influência no aspecto cognitivo do sujeito 10,11 . Para diminuir os efeitos da perda auditiva existe um sistema de amplificação, que além de minimizar os efeitos da privação sensorial auditiva, permite o resgate da percepção dos sons em geral, como os da fala e ambientais 3 .…”