Quality of Life for Children after Cochlear Implantation

Abstract

Introduction: A cochlear implant is a technology assisted device that can be putted in the inner ear through a surgical procedure to help to provide a sense of sound for profoundly deaf or severely hard-of-hearing. Aim: The study aimed to assess quality of life for children after cochlear implants. Research design: A descriptive design was used to conduct this study. Research Setting: The study was conducted at Implantation Department at Bahteem Hospital for Specialized Surgeries affiliate to Health Insurance Organization. Research Subject: A purposive sample included 100 child after cochlear implantation suffering from sensorineural hearing loss and their mothers attended the previously mentioned setting. Tools of the study: Three tools were used. Involved a Pre-designed questionnaire sheet to assess the characteristics of the children and mother`s knowledge. Parent views and Experience Scale to describe what cochlear implants had meant to child’s mother and family and Quality of life Inventory Scale to measured level of quality of life in children after cochlear implantation. Results: Nearly two quarters of the studied children were reported good quality of life, while more than one third was reported average quality of life, while the approximately one quarter of them reported poor quality of life post cochlear implantation. Conclusion: The use of cochlear implants improves the quality of life of the children (the higher the improvement in quality of life and the more developed the auditory skills). The children showed better social communication and self-confidence after the cochlear implantation. In addition there was statistically significant relation between demographic characteristics of the sample study (mother and children) and children quality of life after cochlear implantation. Recommendations: Emphasize the importance of early detect auditory disabilities, making the operation early and provide appropriate intervention & rehabilitations to enhance quality of life of those children.