QoL, CIs, QALYs, and Individualized Rehabilitation: The Clinical and Practical Benefits of Regularly Assessing the Quality of Life of Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

Luis Lassaletta (), Miryam Calvino, Isabel Sanchez-Cuadrado, Piotr Henryk Skarzynski, Katarzyna B. Cywka, Natalia Czajka, Justyna Kutyba, Dayse Tavora-Vieira, Paul Van de Heyning, Griet Mertens, Hinrich Staecker, Bryan Humphrey, Mario Zernotti, Maximo Zernotti, Astrid Magele, Marlene Ploder and Julia Speranza Zabeu
Additional contact information
Luis Lassaletta: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital La Paz. IdiPAZ Research Institute, 28046 Madrid, Spain
Miryam Calvino: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital La Paz. IdiPAZ Research Institute, 28046 Madrid, Spain
Isabel Sanchez-Cuadrado: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital La Paz. IdiPAZ Research Institute, 28046 Madrid, Spain
Piotr Henryk Skarzynski: Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, World Hearing Center, 05-830 Kajetany, Poland
Katarzyna B. Cywka: Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, World Hearing Center, 05-830 Kajetany, Poland
Natalia Czajka: Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, World Hearing Center, 05-830 Kajetany, Poland
Justyna Kutyba: Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, World Hearing Center, 05-830 Kajetany, Poland
Dayse Tavora-Vieira: Fiona Stanley Fremantle Hospitals Group, Perth 6150, Australia
Paul Van de Heyning: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
Griet Mertens: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Antwerp University Hospital, 2650 Antwerp, Belgium
Hinrich Staecker: ENT Department, University of Kansas Medical Centre, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
Bryan Humphrey: ENT Department, University of Kansas Medical Centre, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
Mario Zernotti: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sanatorio Allende de Córdoba, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
Maximo Zernotti: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Sanatorio Allende de Córdoba, Córdoba 5000, Argentina
Astrid Magele: ENT Department, Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria
Marlene Ploder: ENT Department, Universitätsklinikum St. Pölten, 3100 St. Pölten, Austria
Julia Speranza Zabeu: Hospital de Reabilitacão de Anomalias Craniofaciais da Universidade de Sao Paulo, Campus Bauru, Bauru 17012-230, Brazil

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 20, 1-13

Abstract: This study aimed to report quality of life (QoL) scores in unilateral cochlear implant (CI) users and to generate guidance for clinicians on using QoL measures to individualize CI counselling and rehabilitation and to increase access to CIs as a mode of rehabilitation. Participants (n = 101) were unilateral CI users with single-sided deafness (SSD; n = 17), asymmetrical hearing loss (AHL; n = 26), or bilateral hearing loss (Uni; n = 58). Generic QoL was assessed via the Health Utilities Index (HUI-3), and disease-specific QoL was assessed via the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing scale (SSQ12) and Nijmegen CI Questionnaire (NCIQ) at preimplantation and at 6 and 12 months of CI use. All groups had significantly increased HUI-3 scores at both intervals. The SSD group showed significant benefit on the SSQ12 at visit 3, the AHL group showed significant benefit on the SSQ12 and most NCIQ subdomains at both intervals, and the Uni group showed significant benefit with both tests at both intervals. Unilateral CI recipients demonstrate improved QoL within the first 12 months of device use. Regular assessment with generic and disease-specific questionnaires has the potential to play an important role in personalizing treatment and possibly in increasing access to CI provision.

Keywords: cochlear implant; quality of life; rehabilitation; patient reported outcome measure; single-side deafness; asymmetrical hearing loss (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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