Quality Of Life Improvement Experienced By
Cochlear Implant Recipients
Main Category: Hearing
/ Deafness
Cochlear implant recipients experience a significant improvement in their
quality of life, and have improved speech recognition, according to new research
published in the March 2008 issue of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery.
The German study evaluated the quality of life of 56 cochlear implant recipients
using the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ), a self-administered
assessment that asks responders about sound perception, speech, self-esteem, and
social interaction. Responders reported significant improvements in all areas,
with especially large gains observed in the areas of sound perception and social
interaction.
The study also gauged participants using the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36
(SF36). While the results provided by this tool are not specific to hearing loss
or cochlear implants, they nonetheless indicated significant improvements in the
areas of social functioning and mental health.
A cochlear implant is an electronic device that restores partial hearing to the
deaf. It is surgically implanted in the inner ear and activated by a device worn
outside the ear. Unlike a hearing aid, it does not make sound louder or clearer.
Instead, the device bypasses damaged parts of the auditory system and directly
stimulates the hearing nerve, allowing individuals who are profoundly
hearing-impaired to receive sound.
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Article adapted by Medical News Today from original press release.
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Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgeryis the official scientific journal
of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). The
study authors are Anke Hirschfelder, MD; Stefan Gräbel; and Heidi Olze, MD.
They are associated with the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Charit└-Universitätsmedizin
in Berlin, Germany.
About the AAO-HNS
The American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (www.entnet.org),
one of the oldest medical associations in the nation, represents more than
13,000 physicians and allied health professionals who specialize in the
diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the ears, nose, throat, and related
structures of the head and neck. The Academy serves its members by facilitating
the advancement of the science and art of medicine related to otolaryngology and
by representing the specialty in governmental and socioeconomic issues. The
organization's mission: "Working for the Best Ear, Nose, and Throat
Care."
Source: Jessica Mikulski