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Comparative Study
. 2010 Feb;142(2):247-53.
doi: 10.1016/j.otohns.2009.10.045.

The children speak: an examination of the quality of life of pediatric cochlear implant users

Betty Loy  1 , Andrea D Warner-Czyz, Liyue Tong, Emily A Tobey, Peter S Roland
Affiliations
Comparative Study

The children speak: an examination of the quality of life of pediatric cochlear implant users

Betty Loy et al. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2010 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the results of health-related quality-of-life questionnaire scores from profoundly deaf children fitted with at least one cochlear implant (CI) and to compare their responses with those of normal-hearing mates of similar age and their parents.

Study design: Cross-sectional study utilizing a generic quality-of-life questionnaire designed to be completed by both parents and children independently of each other.

Setting: Questionnaires completed at various summer camps designed for children with CIs in Texas and Colorado.

Subjects and methods: Eighty-eight families from 16 states were divided into two subgroups by age of cochlear implantation: an eight- to 11-year-old group and a 12- to 16-year-old group. The KINDL-R Questionnaire for Measuring Health-Related Quality of Life in Children and Adolescents was distributed, and CI participants completed the questionnaire independently of their participating family member.

Results: CI users in both age groups scored similarly to their normal-hearing peers and their parents. Younger CI users scored their family domain lower compared with their normal-hearing peers. Teen CI users scored the school domain lower compared with their parents. Among CI participants, earlier implantation and longer CI use resulted in higher quality-of-life scores.

Conclusion: Children with CIs experience quality of life similar to that of normal-hearing peers. Parents are reliable reporters on the status of their child's overall quality of life.

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Conflict of interest statement

Sponsorships or competing interests that may be relevant to content are disclosed at the end of this article.

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