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Health profile of deaf Canadians

Analysis of the Canada Community Health Survey

Jason D. Pole, PhD
PhD in epidemiology from the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Toronto

Correspondence to: Kathryn Woodcock, Ryerson University, School of Occupational and Public Health, 350 Victoria St, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3; telephone 416 979-5377; e-mail kathryn.woodcock{at}ryerson.ca

OBJECTIVE To profile the health of deaf and hard-of-hearing Canadians inrelation to the population as a whole.

DESIGN Using data from the Canada Community Health Survey 1.1, across-sectional survey conducted by Statistics Canada with a total of 131 535 respondents, a series of logistic regression models was fitted to estimate the odds, compared with the general population, of respondents classified as having hearing problems reporting the presence of various chronic health outcomes; of their utilizing the health care system; of their engaging in certain health promotion activities; and of their reporting certain perceptions about their overall health. For each odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals are provided. All analyses were adjusted for age and sex with some analyses being restricted to appropriate age ranges or having further adjustments made, depending on the outcomes.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES In addition to indications of deafness or hearing loss, this study examined health care utilization, several commonly accepted health outcomes, engagement in health promotion activities, and perceptions of overall health.

RESULTS Approximately 4% of respondents in the cross-sectional survey were considered to have hearing problems. The prevalence of hearing problems increased withage, with males having a slightly higher prevalence of hearing problems compared with females (4.52% versus 3.53%). Respondents classified as having hearing problems, whether hearing loss or deafness, were more likely to report adverse health conditions and low levels of physical activity, and to experience higher rates of depression. Respondents classified as having hearing problems were not more likely to smoke or to drink excessively.

CONCLUSION Communication is essential to both health promotion and health care delivery. Deafness—both the disability and the culture—creates barriers to communication. Individual practitioners can and should consider the communication needs of individual patients with hearing loss or deafness to avoid barriers to optimal health.