Quality of Life in Pediatric Cochlear Implantations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the satisfaction of patients with a cochlear implant using a Parents' Perspective Questionnaire and analyze the significant parameters. MATERIALS and METHODS:Patients who received a cochlear implant in Çukurova University between March 2002 and November 2012 were included in the study. Parents were asked to answer the Parents' Perspective Questionnaire. RESULTS:The age ranges of 62 patients were 2-5 years and of 99 patients were 6-11 years and over. In total, 144 parents were satisfied with the cochlear implant. Patients who attended school had more self-confidence, and users of an implant aged over 18 months had better social relations and self-confidence. CONCLUSION:Cochlear implants' positive effect on the quality of life is a fact, but parents have concerns in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Patients and parents should be informed carefully about cochlear implants. Also, patients' satisfaction is correlated with increasing duration of the implant and age.

Evaluation of quality of life after paediatric cochlear implantation

“…Seventy-eight per cent of respondents noted it was very stressful to wait for the results before the CI. This is a much bigger number of parents compared to a study arranged in Australia (48% of parents described this period as very stressful) (2), but smaller compared to the Turkish population (91% of parents remembered perioperative period as very stressful) (26). It is a very important factor that should be considered by the implantation team: to pay enough attention not only to the child and technical or medical aspects, but to parents as well by providing them with all exhaustive information and answering all questions.…”

“…Siekta išsiaiškinti tėvų nuomonę apie vaikų gyvenimo kokybę ir pažangą po kochlearinės implantacijos. Klausimyną sudarė 74 teiginiai, suskirstyti į dvi dalis: sprendimų priėmimas (26) ir kochlearinės implantacijos rezultatai (48). Vaikų gyvenimo kokybei po kochlearinės implantacijos įvertinti buvo skaičiuojami kochlearinės implantacijos rezultatų dalies balai pagal kategorijas: bendravimas, bendras funkcionavimas, gera savijauta, pasitikėjimas savimi, socialiniai santykiai, ugdymas, implantacijos veiksmingumas, parama vaikui.…”

Satisfaction with Life among Mothers of Pediatric Cochlear Implant Candidates: The Impact of Implant Operation and Sociodemographic Factors

“…In a past study in Turkey among 161 cochlear implanted pediatric patients, preoperative period and first week after surgery were considered to be extremely stressful by 93.1% of the parents, whereas 93.2% stated that they were relaxed after realization of the first response of their child to their voice [3] . Continued parental stress after the surgery has been considered to be associated with ongoing demands of the children as well as a gradual increase in communication and behavior problems [9] .…”

“…Notably, incorporating parents as inalienable members in the rehabilitation process and considering individual needs and family dynamics via persistent and long-term multi-dimensional auditory-verbal intervention program and counseling were shown to be associated with positive effects in a past study among hearing-impaired children's parents in Turkey [35] . Additionally, problems with transportation to the implantation center, lack of access to special services as well as travel and commuting costs to the rehabilitation centers were identified among the significant problems experienced by families with cochlear implanted children, including those from Turkey [3,11,35] . This seems notable given that timely detection and action in hearing disorders necessitates access to high-quality screening and diagnosis services in the area [11] .…”

“…However, the parental involvement and consideration of family perspective in the management of the disease are considered crucial in the follow-up and attainment of desirable language and reading skills among cochlear implanted children [2][3][4][5] .…”