Correlation of quality of life with speech and hearing performance after pediatric cochlear implantation

• Published in: International journal of pediatric otorhinolaryngology 2021-11, Vol.150, p.110889-110889, Article 110889
• Main Authors: Aldriweesh, Bshair, Alharbi, Mashael, Alzahrani, Musaed
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: And auditory performance; Cochlear implant; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0165-5876; 1872-8464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2021.110889

This study aimed to determine the correlation of the quality of life (QOL) with the Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and the Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) scales in children after cochlear implantation. This cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2018 to February 2020 at the otolaryngology department at a tertiary referral center. Patients aged ≤16 years who had received cochlear implants (CIs) at our center were consecutively included in this study. Parents were asked to complete the Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory questionnaire, and auditory and speech assessments were performed by the speech therapists at our center. The correlations of Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory results with the objective data from the CAP and SIR assessment tools were analyzed. Seventy patients were included in this study. The mean age at implantation was 3 years and 9 months. The mean Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory score was 52.23 (standard deviation = 23.99), indicating a positive benefit in QOL. There was a statistically significant correlation of the QOL questionnaire score with the CAP score (r = 0.40, p = 0.008), but no correlation was found between the QOL questionnaire score and the SIR score. We recommend that cochlear implant patients should undergo an evaluation that incorporates auditory, language, and QOL assessment tools to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their progress. •The Glasgow Children's Benefit Inventory questionnaire is a sensitive tool to assess changes in the quality of life of children following an intervention.•We performed a correlation analysis between the results of quality of life assessment measure, hearing and speech performance post cochlear implants.•The Categories of Auditory Performance scale is significantly correlated with the quality of life outcome.•Incorporating quality of life assessment tools into cochlear implant outcome measures generates a more comprehensive understanding of patient progress.