The relationship between changes in self-rated quality of life after cochlear implantation and changes in individual complaints.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the changes in self-rated quality of life (QoL) obtained following cochlear implantation in relation to changes in the individual's complaints.


METHODS
We have used repeated responses over a period of at least 4 years following implantation so as to examine within-subject relationships.


METHODS
Twenty-four consecutive post-lingually deafened patients who had been fitted with cochlear implants between 1991 and December 2000 at the University Hospital of Wales were investigated.


METHODS
The open-ended problems questionnaire was used to assess what hearing impaired people themselves considered to be the main problems arising from their hearing loss. The participants were asked to rate the severity of each one of these problems as well as QoL on '0' to '100' visual analogue scales. Both the individual problem ratings and the ratings of QoL were re-administered to the subjects at each follow-up session.


RESULTS
Changes in the rated QoL of all patients were significantly associated with changes in specific complaints, for example, the ability to communicate, feeling of isolation, telephone use, self-confidence, enjoyment of music and watching the TV. Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that, after implantation, improvements in communication abilities, reduced psychological problems and improvements in abilities of daily life were the key determinants of QoL improvement for individual cochlear implant patients. These key predictors reached a plateau at about 1.5-3 years after cochlear implantation.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationships between changes in specific complaints and the QoL in individual implantees were highlighted. We suggest that cochlear implant outcome measures should continue for at least 3 years after implantation.
Zhao
F
F
Centre for Hearing and Balance Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK. Fei.Zhao@bristol.ac.uk
Bai
Z
Z
Stephens
D
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012934:Social Isolation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013689:Telephone