Impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana

Michael A. Kwarteng; Khathutshelo P. Mashige; Samuel Kyei; Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy; Daniel S.Q. Dogbe

doi:10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.875

Impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana

Michael A. Kwarteng, Khathutshelo P. Mashige, Samuel Kyei, Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy, Daniel S.Q. Dogbe

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Visual impairment significantly affects learners with hearing impairment.

Aim: To assess the impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life (QoL) of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana.

Setting: Six schools for the deaf in Ghana.

Methods: A prospective case-control study design was used to assess the QoL among learners with uncorrected refractive error (URE) using the quality-of-life impact of refractive correction (QIRC) questionnaire before and after the provision of spectacles.

Results: A total of 138 learners were enrolled in this study, with 69 learners in both the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean QIRC score improved significantly for the intervention group: QIRC score before = 43.89 ± 8.96 vs. after = 48.82 ± 6.71 (P < 0.05 and Cohen’s d = 0.62) but not the control group: QIRC score before = 50.79 ± 11.66 and 51.77 ± 10.67 (P = 0.607). Among the learners provided with spectacles, those who did not comply with spectacle wear had significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean QIRC scores before and after the intervention. Only visual acuity (VA) and the magnitude of prescription with QIRC scores after intervention had a significant relationship (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Uncorrected refractive error affected the QoL of learners with hearing impairment, and spectacle correction significantly improved their QoL.

Contribution: The use of spectacle lenses, VA and magnitude of prescription affected the QoL scores; however, sex and age did not influence the QoL scores.

Original language	English
Article number	a875
Number of pages	6
Journal	African Vision and Eye Health
Volume	83
Issue number	1
Early online date	23 May 2024
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.875
Publication status	Published - 31 Jul 2025
Externally published	Yes

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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.875Licence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "Impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana",

abstract = "Background: Visual impairment significantly affects learners with hearing impairment. Aim: To assess the impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life (QoL) of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana. Setting: Six schools for the deaf in Ghana. Methods: A prospective case-control study design was used to assess the QoL among learners with uncorrected refractive error (URE) using the quality-of-life impact of refractive correction (QIRC) questionnaire before and after the provision of spectacles. Results: A total of 138 learners were enrolled in this study, with 69 learners in both the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean QIRC score improved significantly for the intervention group: QIRC score before = 43.89 ± 8.96 vs. after = 48.82 ± 6.71 (P < 0.05 and Cohen{\textquoteright}s d = 0.62) but not the control group: QIRC score before = 50.79 ± 11.66 and 51.77 ± 10.67 (P = 0.607). Among the learners provided with spectacles, those who did not comply with spectacle wear had significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean QIRC scores before and after the intervention. Only visual acuity (VA) and the magnitude of prescription with QIRC scores after intervention had a significant relationship (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Uncorrected refractive error affected the QoL of learners with hearing impairment, and spectacle correction significantly improved their QoL. Contribution: The use of spectacle lenses, VA and magnitude of prescription affected the QoL scores; however, sex and age did not influence the QoL scores.",

keywords = "Ghana, hearing impairment, QIRC, quality-of-life, spectacle wear, vision impairment",

author = "Kwarteng, \{Michael A.\} and Mashige, \{Khathutshelo P.\} and Samuel Kyei and Pirindhavellie Govender-Poonsamy and Dogbe, \{Daniel S.Q.\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2024. The Author(s). Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.",

year = "2025",

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doi = "10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.875",

language = "English",

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T1 - Impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana

AU - Kwarteng, Michael A.

AU - Mashige, Khathutshelo P.

AU - Kyei, Samuel

AU - Govender-Poonsamy, Pirindhavellie

AU - Dogbe, Daniel S.Q.

PY - 2025/7/31

Y1 - 2025/7/31

N2 - Background: Visual impairment significantly affects learners with hearing impairment. Aim: To assess the impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life (QoL) of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana. Setting: Six schools for the deaf in Ghana. Methods: A prospective case-control study design was used to assess the QoL among learners with uncorrected refractive error (URE) using the quality-of-life impact of refractive correction (QIRC) questionnaire before and after the provision of spectacles. Results: A total of 138 learners were enrolled in this study, with 69 learners in both the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean QIRC score improved significantly for the intervention group: QIRC score before = 43.89 ± 8.96 vs. after = 48.82 ± 6.71 (P < 0.05 and Cohen’s d = 0.62) but not the control group: QIRC score before = 50.79 ± 11.66 and 51.77 ± 10.67 (P = 0.607). Among the learners provided with spectacles, those who did not comply with spectacle wear had significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean QIRC scores before and after the intervention. Only visual acuity (VA) and the magnitude of prescription with QIRC scores after intervention had a significant relationship (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Uncorrected refractive error affected the QoL of learners with hearing impairment, and spectacle correction significantly improved their QoL. Contribution: The use of spectacle lenses, VA and magnitude of prescription affected the QoL scores; however, sex and age did not influence the QoL scores.

AB - Background: Visual impairment significantly affects learners with hearing impairment. Aim: To assess the impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life (QoL) of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana. Setting: Six schools for the deaf in Ghana. Methods: A prospective case-control study design was used to assess the QoL among learners with uncorrected refractive error (URE) using the quality-of-life impact of refractive correction (QIRC) questionnaire before and after the provision of spectacles. Results: A total of 138 learners were enrolled in this study, with 69 learners in both the intervention and control groups, respectively. The mean QIRC score improved significantly for the intervention group: QIRC score before = 43.89 ± 8.96 vs. after = 48.82 ± 6.71 (P < 0.05 and Cohen’s d = 0.62) but not the control group: QIRC score before = 50.79 ± 11.66 and 51.77 ± 10.67 (P = 0.607). Among the learners provided with spectacles, those who did not comply with spectacle wear had significant differences (P < 0.05) in mean QIRC scores before and after the intervention. Only visual acuity (VA) and the magnitude of prescription with QIRC scores after intervention had a significant relationship (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Uncorrected refractive error affected the QoL of learners with hearing impairment, and spectacle correction significantly improved their QoL. Contribution: The use of spectacle lenses, VA and magnitude of prescription affected the QoL scores; however, sex and age did not influence the QoL scores.

KW - Ghana

KW - hearing impairment

KW - QIRC

KW - quality-of-life

KW - spectacle wear

KW - vision impairment

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85196287038

U2 - 10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.875

DO - 10.4102/AVEH.V83I1.875

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85196287038

SN - 2413-3183

VL - 83

JO - African Vision and Eye Health

JF - African Vision and Eye Health

IS - 1

M1 - a875

ER -

Impact of spectacle wear on the quality of life of learners with hearing impairment in Ghana

Abstract

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