title: Psychological well-being among cochlear implant users: a comparison with the general population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we describe the psychological well-being experienced by cochlear implant users, and compare it to that of the general population in Norway.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a questionnaire-based cross-sectional multicentre study, in which 53  of 73 (73%) unilateral cochlear implant users and 177 of 318 (56%) matched reference subjects from the general population participated. Psychological well-being was measured by the Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWB). The indexes of the cochlear implant users and the general population  sample were compared using ordinary linear regression, adjusting for the matching variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the cochlear implant users was 56 (SD 16) years, 66% of them were females, and they had used their implants for a mean of 18 (SD 6) months. The distribution of  socio-demographic variables was similar to that of the general population sample. We found no difference in mean PGWB index between the cochlear implant users and the general population sample with indexes of 85.5 and 83.4, respectively. The 95% confidence interval for the adjusted difference  was -3.0 to 6.9. The cochlear implant users had slightly better scores in the dimensions general health and vitality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cochlear implant users experienced a psychological well-being similar to that of the general population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. silje.hammervold.rembar@gmail.com
authors.forename: Silje Hammervold
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Rembar
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Lind
authors.forename: Pål
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Romundstad
authors.forename: Anne-Sofie
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Helvik
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011788:Quality of Life; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome