Cochlear implant and quality of life: a study with parents and families of deaf children

Abstract

Introduction: The cochlear implant is a hearing solution implemented in the Brazilian scenario, becoming a viable strategy for auditory rehabilitation for severe and profound hearing loss. However, despite the great technological advancements and the excellent results obtained and described in the literature, having an implanted child can compromise the quality of life of the families involved in the process. Objective: Compare the quality of life of a group of parents and families who have children users of cochlear implants, before and after implantation. Method: This is a cross-sectional clinical study. The participants were 30 individuals that were submitted to the WHOQOL- Bref questionnaire before surgery and after six months of implant activation. The overall score and the data for the four areas covered (physical, psychological, environmental and social relations) were analyzed and described. Results: There was a significant positive change to the scores of environmental and social relationships domains of the instrument. There was no significant difference in the overall score or on the physical and psychological domains. Conclusion: It was possible to compare the quality of life of a group of parents of children using CI before and after the surgical process and device activation. The implantation has generated significant improvement in the environment and social relationships areas, showing an improvement in the quality of life of the interviewed parents.