Health-Related Quality of Life in Children With Cochlear Implants From Parents’ Perspective

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in parents of children with cochlear implants and assess influencing factors. These data can enable practitioners to support patients and their families in utilizing the cochlear implant and its benefits to the fullest extent. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective descriptive and analytic study was conducted at the Implantation center Mohammed VI. Parents of cochlear implant patients were asked to fill out forms and answer a questionnaire. Participants included parents of children <15 years old who underwent unilateral cochlear implantation between January 2009 and December 2019, presenting with bilateral severe to profound neurosensory deafness. Participants completed the children with cochlear implantation: parent’s perspective (CCIPP) HRQoL questionnaire. RESULTS: The mean age of the children was 6.49±2.55 years. The mean time between implantation for each patient and this study was calculated as 4.33±2.05 years. There was a positive correlation between this variable and the following subscales: communication, well-being and happiness, and the process of implantation. For these subscales, the score was higher as the delay was greater. Parents of children who received speech therapy before implantation were more satisfied on the following subscales: communication, general functioning, well-being and happiness, implantation process, implantation effectiveness, and support for the child. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQoL is better in families of children who received their implant at an early age. This finding raises awareness of the importance of systemic screening in newborns.