title: Effects of cochlear implants: a qualitative study.
abstract: This qualitative study aimed to gain a deeper insight into the effects of cochlear implants on recipients' lives, as perceived by the recipients themselves. To obtain this insight, we used four open-ended questions. We invited 107 adult patients from two Norwegian implant centres. Of these, 74 returned completed questionnaires (69%). Recipients perceived that they had got 'A new life' with the implant. Contributing to this global category of effects were four other categories. These concerned subjects' interactions with the world around them, experience of themselves, ability to hear the world around them and finally certain device-related issues. Overall, psychological well-being was improved. The questionnaire described might prove a useful tool in the follow-up of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. rembar@stud.ntnu.no
authors.forename: Silje
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rembar
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Haakon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arnesen
authors.forename: Anne-Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Helvik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006240:Happiness; D006309:Hearing; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult