Subjective Outcome Measures after Cochlear Implantation: Overall Measures

Abstract

The aim of this study was to obtain relevant information about the improvement in the quality of life in profoundly deafened adults after they had received cochlear implants (CIs) and to determine appropriate means of its assessment. We investigated 47 adult patients with the open-ended hearing difficulties questionnaire and the self-rated quality of life, activity limitation and participation restriction questionnaires pre- and post-implantation as well as with BKB sentence lists. The most commonly reported hearing difficulties problems were with communication, enjoyment of music, using the telephone, watching TV, feeling of isolation, loss of confidence, loss of social life and tinnitus. These all showed significant improvements after implantation. Moreover, before implantation, our study shows that hearing difficulties were significantly correlated with the difficulties of using the telephone and the loss of confidence; the life effect was significantly associated with effects on communication; the effect on communication was significantly correlated with difficulties of using the telephone and the loss of social life. On the other hand, after implantation, there were significant relationships between reductions in hearing difficulties, life effect, effect on quality of life and improvements in communication; improvements in using the telephone were also significantly associated with reduced hearing difficulties after a period of time. Reduced life effect related to improved ability to hear music initially but not later. However, improved BKB sentences scores were not significantly related to improved communication, using the telephone, or to self-confidence.

• Deafness
• cochlear implants
• quality of life
• open-ended questionnaire
• self-rating questionnaire