Abstract
The primary objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of hearing implant (HI) use on quality of life (QoL) and to determine which QoL measure(s) quantify QoL with greater sensitivity in users of different types of HIs. Participants were adult cochlear implant (CI), active middle ear implant (VIBRANT SOUNDBRIDGE (VSB)), or active transcutaneous bone conduction implant (the BONEBRIDGE (BB)) recipients. Generic QoL and disease-specific QoL were assessed at three intervals: pre-activation, 6 months of device use, and 12 months of device use. 169 participants completed the study (110 CI, 18VSB, and 41BB). CI users’ QoL significantly increased from 0–6 m device use on both the generic- and the disease-specific measures. On some device-specific measures, their QoL also significantly increased between 6 and 12 m device use. VSB users’ QoL significantly increased between all tested intervals with the disease-specific measure but not the generic measure. BB users’ QoL significantly increased from 0–6 m device use on both the generic- and the disease-specific measures. In sum, HI users experienced significant postoperative increases in QoL within their first 12 m of device use, especially when disease-specific measures were used. Disease-specific QoL measures appeared to be more sensitive than their generic counterparts.
Highlights
The World Health Organization defines “health” as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity” [1].the measurement of health and the effects of health care on recipients must include changes in the frequency and severity of disease(s) and the improvement in quality of life (QoL) related to the health care
The results show that hearing implant (HI) use can have a significant impact on users’ generic and disease-specific QoL
The results from cochlear implant (CI) users suggest that, for high levels of hearing loss, device use leads to significant improvements in QoL when assessed with disease-specific measures (NCIQ and SSQ12 )
Summary
The measurement of health and the effects of health care on recipients must include changes in the frequency and severity of disease(s) and the improvement in quality of life (QoL) related to the health care (e.g., the treatment chosen). To this end, patientreported outcomes (e.g., subjective QoL) have gained importance and attention [2,3], and these outcomes have become increasingly seen as an important measurement of treatment outcome [4,5]. HI recipients/users, routinely complete speech perception tests in sound booths or in carefully controlled settings. To gauge the effect of HI use more fully, it is necessary to ask users how device use changes their QoL [14]
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