Psychological well-being among cochlear implant users: a comparison with the general population

Abstract

Objectives

In this study, we describe the psychological well-being experienced by cochlear implant users, and compare it to that of the general population in Norway.

Methods

We conducted a questionnaire-based cross-sectional multicentre study, in which 53 of 73 (73%) unilateral cochlear implant users and 177 of 318 (56%) matched reference subjects from the general population participated. Psychological well-being was measured by the Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWB). The indexes of the cochlear implant users and the general population sample were compared using ordinary linear regression, adjusting for the matching variables.

Results

Mean age of the cochlear implant users was 56 (SD 16) years, 66% of them were females, and they had used their implants for a mean of 18 (SD 6) months. The distribution of socio-demographic variables was similar to that of the general population sample. We found no difference in mean PGWB index between the cochlear implant users and the general population sample with indexes of 85.5 and 83.4, respectively. The 95% confidence interval for the adjusted difference was −3.0 to 6.9. The cochlear implant users had slightly better scores in the dimensions general health and vitality.

Discussion

The cochlear implant users experienced a psychological well-being similar to that of the general population.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implantation
• Quality of life
• Psychological general well-being
• Severe-to-profound hearing impairment

Acknowledgements

Several people made important contributions to this study, and the authors wish to thank Haakon Arnesen, Marit Pedersen, Siri Wennberg, and other staff at the Department of Audiology at St. Olavs Hospital for clinical advice and collecting data; Berit Marianne Bjelkåsen for assistance in administration of questionnaires; Stian Lydersen for advice regarding analyses; and Kristen Rembar Hammervold for language advice during manuscript preparation and technical assistance. Finally, we want to thank the subjects who participated in the study. EDB Infobank performed the random selection of the reference subjects for the general population sample. The study was funded by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology.