Quality of life assessment in paediatric cochlear implant recipients in South India: Parental assessment and correlation with rehabilitation scores using a bilingual quality of life assessment questionnaire

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the quality of life (QoL) of prelingually deaf paediatric population after Cochlear implantation (CI), using a bilingual questionnaire and to correlate with rehabilitation scores; to validate the questionnaire and recommend its use in future studies.

Methods: This was a questionnaire based cross-sectional study. Parents of 151 paediatric prelingual CI recipients filled the questionnaire using a 5-point rating scale, with a score of 1–5. These scores were correlated with the CAP and SIR scores.

Results and discussion: There was a positive correlation of QoL score with rehabilitation outcomes (r = 0.4638 and P ≤ 0.00001 for CAP; r = 0.3563 and P ≤ 0.00001 for SIR scores). The maximum scores (≥4.0) were given by parents for integration into educational system (4.86), response to environmental sounds (4.12) and overall parental satisfaction about child’s performance (4.09). Minimum scores were given for ability to speak in sentences (2.9) and response to verbal sounds at a distance (3.23).

Conclusion: The QoL of these children as assessed by the institutional questionnaire have correlated with the rehabilitation outcomes. These QoL results have a positive impact in counselling for early CI as well as for rehabilitation.

Keywords:

• Quality of life
• Cochlear implantation
• Categories of auditory performance
• Speech intelligibility rating
• Questionnaire

Acknowledgements

We thank the implanted children and their parents, who participated in this study, for their co-operation and time.

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Funding This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Conflict of interests None.

Ethics approval None.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Senthil Vadivu Arumugam

Senthil Vadivu Arumugam is a Consultant ENT surgeon at Madras ENT Research Foundation (MERF). She is in-charge of the Cochlear Implant clinic at MERF and the Cochlear Implant coordinator for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme. She has completed her DNB in 2008. She is a life member of many learned associations and has published papers in reputed International Journals. She has an active interest in research and statistical analysis. She is also a part of an ongoing clinical study on genetic association in children with congenital hearing loss. She has attended various National and International Conferences and presented papers in scientific sessions and won awards. She was joint secretary for 1st National Conference on Snoring and Sleep Apnoea, Chennai, February 2013 and joint treasurer for first national convention of Indian Academy of otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery. She was invited as a guest speaker in 4th International Conference on Clinical & Experimental Cardiology (Cardiology-2014), San Antonio, USA in April 2014. She has many publications in National and International reputed Journals.

Sunil Mathews

Sunil Mathews is a Fellow in implantation otology and Neurotology at Madras ENT Research Foundation, on deputation from the Indian Air Force. He completed his MS and DNB in ENT from Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, India. He was awarded Lt Col D N Mehta Memorial Silver Medal for the best outgoing student in the specialty. His interests are in the fields of otology, implantation otology, neurotolgy, endoscopic sinus surgery, facial plastics and microlaryngeal surgeries. He was a member of teaching faculty for the undergraduate and post-graduates at Armed Forces Medical College, Pune India and was part of the team of instructors for hands-on training on temporal bone dissection and head & neck cadaveric dissection courses. He has won first prizes for paper and poster presentations in various National ENT conferences. He is active in research works and has published papers in National and International journals.

Vijaya Krishnan Paramasivan

Vijaya Krishnan Pramasivan is a Consultant ENT surgeon at Madras ENT Research Foundation and a teaching faculty in MERF Institute of Speech and Hearing. He completed his DNB in 2007. His interest is in the field of Sleep Disorders and Obstructive Sleep Apnoea and had training at Euro Sleep Clinic, Bergen, Norway. He is the only Indian in the International Scientific Committee member of World Congress on Sleep Medicine. He is the founder secretary of IASSA, IAOHNS and ISFARO. He conducted the 63rd Annual National Conference of Otolaryngologists of India, first National conference on snoring and sleep disorders, and first National convention of Indian academy of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery. He has conducted Instructional courses on Sleep Apnoea in International Federation of Otorhinolaryngology IFOS2013, Korea and in the 5th International World Sleep Congress at Valencia, Spain. He was an Instructor for hands-on training and cadaver dissection course for OSA at Singapore General Hospital. He has been an invited faculty member in panel discussions and delivered guest lectures in various National and International conferences. He is the reviewer of International Journals like International Journal of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology and is an Editorial Board member of Austin’s International Journal of Sleep Disorders.

Mohan Kameswaran

Professor Mohan Kameswaran is the Senior Consultant of Madras ENT Research Foundation and Honorary Senior Lecturer, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, UK. He was awarded Padma Shri (2006) and Dr B.C. Roy award (2008) by the Presidents of India. He was awarded ‘Indo-Australian Award’ by the Indo-Australian Association, ‘Award for Excellence of Service’ (2006) for pioneering Cochlear Implant Program in Srilanka. He is the only Indian elected as a Member of the Governing Body-Asia-Pacific Cochlear Implant Board, in 2007. He has been elected as Member, Executive Board, IFOS, Brazil & has been elected Board Member of the Politzer Society (London, 2009). He was the President of APSCI. He is first Indian Otologist to be appointed as a Visiting Professor in Otology (2015) by JLO and Royal Society of Medicine, UK. He is one of the pioneers of Cochlear Implant Surgery in India and has Mentored Cochlear Implant surgery in 32 centres in India, and in 7 centres overseas. He is the first surgeon in South and South East Asia to have performed the ABI and the first Pediatric ABI in Asia, in 2009. He is also the first surgeon in Asia-Pacific region to have performed the Totally Implantable Hearing Device surgery. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh) and Fellow of the International College of Surgeons. He is also a designated overseas Clinical tutor of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh). He is also the Founder President of Cochlear Implant Group of India.