Effects of Hearing Disability on the Employment Status Using WHODAS 2.0 in Taiwan

Pin-Zhir Chao, Shih-Wei Huang, Reuben Escorpizo, Wen-Chou Chi, Chia-Feng Yen, Hua-Fang Liao, Yi-Wen Chen and Tsan-Hon Liou
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Pin-Zhir Chao: Department of Otolaryngology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan
Shih-Wei Huang: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan
Reuben Escorpizo: Department of Rehabilitation and Movement Science, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT 05405, USA
Wen-Chou Chi: Taiwan Society of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, TSICF, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan
Chia-Feng Yen: Taiwan Society of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, TSICF, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan
Hua-Fang Liao: Taiwan Society of International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, TSICF, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan
Yi-Wen Chen: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan
Tsan-Hon Liou: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei 23561, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 24, 1-13

Abstract: The aim of this study was to explore the association between employment status and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule, Second Edition (WHODAS 2.0) scores of working-age subjects with hearing impairment. The data of 18,573 working-age subjects (age ≥ 18 and <65 years) with disabling hearing impairment were obtained from the Taiwan Data Bank of Persons with Disability (TDPD) for the period from 11 July 2012 to 31 October 2018. Demographic data and WHODAS 2.0 scores for each domain were analyzed to identify their relationship with employment status. Unemployed subjects with disabling hearing impairment had higher WHODAS 2.0 scores in all domains compared with the employed subjects. Binary logistic regression revealed that older age, female sex, lower educational level, institutional residence, rural residence, lower family income, and moderate to severe impairment were more strongly associated with unemployment status. The data in this large population-based study offer comprehensive information on important factors associated with the employment status of people with disabling hearing impairment. Early identification of risks of unemployment of patients with hearing impairment can raise awareness for aggressive community and government campaigns regarding public health to improve the self-confidence, social participation, and related psycho-social wellbeing of people.

Keywords: employment; working status; WHODAS 2.0; ICF; hearing loss; hearing disability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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