Health-related quality of life perspectives of cochlear implanted children, their hearing peers, and their parents: a prospective case-control study

Abstract

Background: Hearing loss is one of the most common sensory alterations in humans. Cochlear implants in children provide significant benefits from a clinical point of view. However, the benefits in the health-related quality of life have been seldom studied. Objective: To assess whether the health-related quality of life of 5-18 old children with cochlear implants, as measured with the PedsQL pediatric quality of life questionnaire version 4.0, is comparable with the perception of their parents/caregivers. Design: Prospective, observational, cross-sectional and analytical study. Setting(s): Hearing loss Unit of the Hospital Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil (Mother and Child University Hospital), Leo<acute accent>n y Castillo Infant and Primary Education Center and La Minilla Secondary Education Institute. Participants: 140 pediatric subjects (108 with cochlear implants, 32 hearing) plus one of their parents or guardians. Methods: The original and Spanish-validated PedsQLTM pediatric quality of life questionnaires version 4.0 were used. Results: Cochlear implantation yielded statistically significant results in terms of physical functioning and psychosocial health in children of 5-18 years of age. Conclusions: The health-related quality of life of cochlear implanted pediatric patients (5-18 years old) evaluated with the PedsQLTM pediatric quality of life questionnaire version 4.0, is comparable to the perception of their parents/caregivers.