Cochlear Implants and Quality of Life: A Prospective Study

In Brief Objective: To evaluate changes in quality of life, anxiety, and depression after cochlear implantation in adults. Design: Twenty-seven postlingually deafened adults who had received a MED-EL Combi 40+ implant were investigated. One generic Health-Related Quality of Life measure, the SF-36, two disease-specific measures, the Patient Quality of Life Form (PQLF) and the Index Relative Questionnaire Form (IRQF) completed by a near relative to the patient, in addition to a domain specific measure, the Hopkins Symptom Check List 25 items (HSCL-25), were used in a prospective study. The subjects were investigated before surgery and 12 to 15 months after surgery. Results: The scores were significantly better after surgery in four of six categories of the PQLF. In the IRQF, where a family member of the cochlear implant recipient was studied, the scores were significantly better in four of five categories. There was a significant improvement in the HSCL-25 scores after surgery. In the SF-36, only one of eight scales showed significant improvement. Conclusions: Cochlear implants were associated with statistically significant improvement in quality of life in postlingually deafened adults. The improvements were largest in the categories concerning communication, feelings of being a burden, isolation, and relations to friends and family. The implants also improved the relatives’ daily lives. There was a statistically significant reduction in degree of depression and anxiety. Reduction in anxiety and depression was associated with gain in quality of life. In order to get a deeper understanding of the changes to quality of life, anxiety, and depression after cochlear implantation in adults, a prospective study was performed. Twenty-seven postlingually deafened adults were investigated preoperatively and 12–15 months postoperatively. By the use of different questionnaires, it was found that cochlear implantation resulted in statistically significant improvement in different aspects of quality of life. Among the results were improved relations to friend and family members and reduction in degree of anxiety and depression. A statistically significant association was found between reduction in anxiety and depression and improvement in quality of life.