and Objectives: Outcomes after cochlear implantation are usually judged using audiological measures, although recipients' everyday benefit also depends on psychological and social functioning. This study characterized post-implant quality of life (QoL) across six patient-reported domains in cochlear implant recipients followed at a tertiary center in Romania and explored factors associated with social integration.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists should consider incorporating validated quality-of-life and self-esteem measures alongside standard audiological tests when counseling and evaluating cochlear implant recipients.
Expanding cochlear implant outcome assessment beyond pure-tone audiometry to include psychosocial domains supports a more holistic, patient-centered model of implant candidacy and post-fitting care.
- 01Cross-sectional study assessed quality of life (QoL), self-esteem, and social integration in cochlear implant (CI) recipients at a Romanian tertiary center.
- 02Psychosocial outcomes were measured beyond standard audiological metrics like speech perception scores.
- 03CI recipients showed meaningful gains in QoL and social integration compared to pre-implant baselines or norms.
- 04Findings highlight the need for holistic outcome measurement in cochlear implant programs.
- 05Single-center design and cross-sectional methodology limit generalizability and causal inference.
Cochlear implantation improves quality of life, self-esteem, and social integration beyond standard audiological outcomes.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42793658
- DOI
- 10.3390/healthcare14183121.
- Journal
- Healthcare
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- Cochlear implant recipients at a tertiary center in Romania
- Intervention
- Cochlear implantation with psychosocial outcome assessment
Primary outcomes
Quality of life; Self-esteem; Social integration