In order to counteract the inherent problem that hearing loss follows various clinical courses and is unpredictable in terms of prognosis, the World Health Organization (WHO) has proposed an ICF core set for hearing loss.
A member of Ida community, Sarah Granberg registered audiologist, lecturer and PhD student at the Dep of Hearing Science Örebro University in Sweden is a member of the esteemed ICF core set committee which aims to establish overall outcome measurements that incorporate the broad spectrum of functional impairments and quality of life problems that are associated with hearing loss.
Currently the committee is making a systematic review regarding the measures used in clinical trials and selected observational studies. Once finished, a qualitative study using focus groups and individual interviews with patients with hearing loss will be done and an expert survey with health professionals from different health professions worldwide. The last step will be an empirical, cross-sectional study.
The information collected from these preparatory studies will be presented at the ICF Core Set Consensus Conference to selected experts in the field of Hearing Loss. Following a multi-stage decision process, the experts will agree on the ICF categories to be included in the ICF Core Set for Hearing Loss.
Dr. Granberg has said that the project is in early stages and that the core set is expected to be finished by 2010.
What is the ICF?
The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) has been proposed by the World Health Organization to establish a framework and classification for the patient and clinical perspective both at the individual and the population level. It integrates long known concepts and provides a universal and standardized language. Based on the ICF a thorough and comprehensive picture of patients’ functional impairments can be drawn. To date, ICF Core Sets have been developed for 12 chronic health conditions.