Measures of Comparative Behavior in Hearing Loss Patients with Cochlear Implant: Caretaker Assessment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess comparative behavior domain in patients with cochlear implants, using caretaker assessment. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted. Of 106 patients with hearing loss and receiving cochlear implants were included along with their caretakers. The caretaker’ perspective questionnaire-22 was implemented covering emotions, education, and social relationships domain. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to statistical analysis. The implantation elicited a slight reduction in emotions scores domain as well as slight increase in social relationships scores from pre-cochlear implants to 12 months in all aged (6–10 years: − 10.7, 95%CI − 8.4 to 12.9; 4.2, 95%CI 3.0–5.5, 11–20 years: − 8.6, 95%CI − 6.7 to 10.5; 2.5, 95%CI 1.6–3.3, 21–59 years: − 6.8, 95%CI − 4.9 to 8.6; 2.0, 95%CI 1.3–2.7, and older 60 years: − 12.1, 95%CI − 9.5 to 14.6; 3.6, 95%CI 2.7–4.5, respectively). However, the education scores domain has slight increase only in aged 21–59 years group (1.8, 95%CI 0.7–2.8). A long-term after cochlear implants (12 months), but not after only 6 months elicits a statistically significant increase the social relationships scores and the reduction in negative emotions scores in all aged at implantation. However, the education scores have slight increase only in aged 21–59. © 2019, Association of Otolaryngologists of India.