[Quality of life in children with cochlear implants and their families (Program Schwarzenberg)--initial report].
The aim of the study was to present the results of international evaluation program "Quality of Life in children and their families--Schwarzenberg Initiative". The parents of children under 15 years old was asked to fill out specially prepared questionnaires. 1240 children from 9 countries participated in the study. In Poland 60 families filled out the questionnaires. 80 questions concerned several topics, including reaction of parents to the first information about impaired hearing of their child, using hearing aids before and after implantation, evaluation of behaviour in kindergarten and in school. This initial report describes only a few important topics. In 27.7% of Polish families the impaired hearing of their child was a cause to stop the work of one of the parents, to decrease time of work or to change the place of work in 9.1%. In most of the children the perception of sound was noticed. Only a few families from Austria, Slovenia, Swiss and Italy reported unsatisfactory results after implantation. Implantation increases quality of life of implanted children and their families.
Klinika Otolaryngologii AM im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu.
Witold
W
Szyfter
Marcin
M
Kawczyński
Zofia
Z
Obrebowska-Karsznia
Dorota
D
Mietkiewska
Michał
M
Karlik
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003657:Decision Making; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires