Suicide

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Benatar
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Human Predicament

This chapter examines suicide as one response to the human predicament. It is argued that while suicide can bring relief from appalling quality of life, it is not a cost-free exit from the human predicament. Even when it is the least bad option, it nonetheless involves annihilation. Moreover, it fails to address the problem of meaninglessness at any level. Indeed, it often (even though not always) exacerbates that problem by limiting the sorts of meaning that are sometimes attainable. Various arguments supporting a categorical opposition to suicide are examined and rejected. These include arguments that suicide amounts to murder, that it is irrational, unnatural, and cowardly. The interests of others sometimes do but sometimes do not render suicide wrong. The finality of death makes suicide a momentous decision, but it does not always make suicide wrong. The conditions under which suicide is and is not a reasonable option are discussed.

The Human Predicament

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Benatar
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Life And Death ◽  
Human Predicament ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
Individual Human

The Human Predicament engages life’s big questions. Are our lives meaningless? Is death bad? Would immortality be better? Alternatively, should we hasten our deaths by acts of suicide? Many people are tempted to offer comforting, optimistic answers to these existential questions. The Human Predicament offers a less sanguine assessment and defends a substantial, but not unmitigated, pessimism. It is argued that while our lives can have some meaning, we are ultimately the insignificant beings that we fear we are. There is no point to human life as a whole, and individual human lives have no cosmic purpose. Nor is meaning the only way in which our lives are deficient. A candid appraisal reveals that the quality of life, although less bad for some people than for others, leaves much to be desired in even the best cases. Death, however, is not generally the solution. It exacerbates rather than mitigates our cosmic meaninglessness. It can release us from suffering but even when it does, it imposes another cost—annihilation. The human predicament is thus forged by both life and death. This unfortunate state of affairs has nuanced implications for how we should think about immortality and suicide, which are also discussed in The Human Predicament.

Self-Compassion and Quality of Life in Adults Who Stutter

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 2097-2108
Author(s):  
Robyn L. Croft ◽  
Courtney T. Byrd
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Social Connectedness ◽  
The Self ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Self Compassion ◽  
Adults Who Stutter ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study was to identify levels of self-compassion in adults who do and do not stutter and to determine whether self-compassion predicts the impact of stuttering on quality of life in adults who stutter. Method Participants included 140 adults who do and do not stutter matched for age and gender. All participants completed the Self-Compassion Scale. Adults who stutter also completed the Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering. Data were analyzed for self-compassion differences between and within adults who do and do not stutter and to predict self-compassion on quality of life in adults who stutter. Results Adults who do and do not stutter exhibited no significant differences in total self-compassion, regardless of participant gender. A simple linear regression of the total self-compassion score and total Overall Assessment of the Speaker's Experience of Stuttering score showed a significant, negative linear relationship of self-compassion predicting the impact of stuttering on quality of life. Conclusions Data suggest that higher levels of self-kindness, mindfulness, and social connectedness (i.e., self-compassion) are related to reduced negative reactions to stuttering, an increased participation in daily communication situations, and an improved overall quality of life. Future research should replicate current findings and identify moderators of the self-compassion–quality of life relationship.

Misophonia: An Evidence-Based Case Report

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 685-690
Author(s):  
C. S. Vanaja ◽  
Miriam Soni Abigail
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Case Report ◽  
Case History ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Physiological Responses ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Management Option ◽  
Pure Tone Audiogram

Purpose Misophonia is a sound tolerance disorder condition in certain sounds that trigger intense emotional or physiological responses. While some persons may experience misophonia, a few patients suffer from misophonia. However, there is a dearth of literature on audiological assessment and management of persons with misophonia. The purpose of this report is to discuss the assessment of misophonia and highlight the management option that helped a patient with misophonia. Method A case study of a 26-year-old woman with the complaint of decreased tolerance to specific sounds affecting quality of life is reported. Audiological assessment differentiated misophonia from hyperacusis. Management included retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy based on the principles described by P. J. Jastreboff and Jastreboff (2014). A misophonia questionnaire was administered at regular intervals to monitor the effectiveness of therapy. Results A detailed case history and audiological evaluations including pure-tone audiogram and Johnson Hyperacusis Index revealed the presence of misophonia. The patient benefitted from intervention, and the scores of the misophonia questionnaire indicated a decrease in the severity of the problem. Conclusions It is important to differentially diagnose misophonia and hyperacusis in persons with sound tolerance disorders. Retraining counseling as well as desensitization and habituation therapy can help patients who suffer from misophonia.

Quality of Life of Youth With Hearing Loss

ASHA Leader ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 15 (15) ◽  
pp. 5-6
Author(s):  
Anne Skalicky ◽  
Brenda Schick ◽  
Donald Patrick
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Hearing Loss

Thinking Beyond Language: Intervention for Severe Aphasia

2009 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Simmons-Mackie
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Communication Training ◽  
Language Intervention ◽  
Specific Training ◽  
Environmental Support ◽  
Total Communication ◽  
Communication Partners

Abstract Purpose: This article addresses several intervention approaches that aim to improve life for individuals with severe aphasia. Because severe aphasia significantly compromises language, often for the long term, recommended approaches focus on additional domains that affect quality of life. Treatments are discussed that involve increasing participation in personally relevant life situations, enhancing environmental support for communication and participation, and improving communicative confidence. Methods: Interventions that have been suggested in the aphasia literature as particularly appropriate for people with severe aphasia include training in total communication, training of communication partners, and activity specific training. Conclusion: Several intervention approaches can be implemented to enhance life with severe aphasia.

Chronic Refractory Cough: A Case Study

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-62
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Siciliano
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Chronic Cough ◽  
Treatment Regime ◽  
Speech Language Pathology ◽  
Old Adult ◽  
Language Pathology

This paper presents a successful behavioral case study in treatment of chronic refractory cough in a 60-year-old adult female. The efficacy for speech-language pathology treating chronic cough is discussed along with description of treatment regime. Discussion focuses on therapy approaches used and the patient's report of changes in quality of life and frequency, duration, and severity reduction of her cough after treatment.

Deterioration of quality of life in patients with chronic pancreatitis

2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A647-A647
Author(s):  
M WEHLER ◽  
R NICHTERLEIN ◽  
B FISCHER ◽  
M FARNBACHER ◽  
U REULBACH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Chronic Pancreatitis
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