Health-Related Quality of Life Among Young Children With Cochlear Implants and Developmental Disabilities
Health-Related Quality of Life Among Young Children With Cochlear Implants and Developmental Disabilities
Objective: The present study examined differences in health-related
quality of life (HRQoL) between deaf children with cochlear implants (CI)
with and without developmental disabilities (DD) and differences across
HRQoL domains within both groups of children.
Methods: Ninety-two parents of children with CI aged 3–7 years participated
in this cross-sectional study. Of these children, 43 had DD (i.e.,
CI-DD group) and 49 had no DD or chronic illness, demonstrating overall
typical development (i.e., CI-TD group). Parents of children in both
groups completed the KINDLR, a generic HRQoL questionnaire. Parents
also provided anecdotal comments to open-ended questions, and parent
comments were evaluated on a CI benefits scale to assess parentperceived
benefits of CI for the deaf children with and without disabilities.
Results: Children in the CI-DD group had significantly lower HRQoL
compared to children in the CI-TD group, including lower scores on the
self-esteem, friend, school, and family HRQoL subscales. No significant
differences among groups were found on the physical well-being and
emotional well-being subscales. For the CI-TD group, age at implantation
correlated negatively with self-esteem and school HRQoL subscales.
In the CI-DD group, children’s current age correlated negatively with
family and with the total HRQoL scores. Parent anecdotal comments and
scores on the CI-benefits scale indicated strong parent perceptions of
benefits of implantation for children in both groups.
Conclusion: Based on parents’ proxy report, findings suggest that having
DD affects multiple domains of HRQoL among young children with
CIs above and beyond that of the CI itself. Parents of deaf children with
DD may need greater support through the CI process and follow-up than
parents of deaf children without DD.
Objective: The present study examined differences in health-related
quality of life (HRQoL) between deaf children with cochlear implants (CI)
with and without developmental disabilities (DD) and differences across
HRQoL domains within both groups of children.
Methods: Ninety-two parents of children with CI aged 3–7 years participated
in this cross-sectional study. Of these children, 43 had DD (i.e.,
CI-DD group) and 49 had no DD or chronic illness, demonstrating overall
typical development (i.e., CI-TD group). Parents of children in both
groups completed the KINDLR, a generic HRQoL questionnaire. Parents
also provided anecdotal comments to open-ended questions, and parent
comments were evaluated on a CI benefits scale to assess parentperceived
benefits of CI for the deaf children with and without disabilities.
Results: Children in the CI-DD group had significantly lower HRQoL
compared to children in the CI-TD group, including lower scores on the
self-esteem, friend, school, and family HRQoL subscales. No significant
differences among groups were found on the physical well-being and
emotional well-being subscales. For the CI-TD group, age at implantation
correlated negatively with self-esteem and school HRQoL subscales.
In the CI-DD group, children’s current age correlated negatively with
family and with the total HRQoL scores. Parent anecdotal comments and
scores on the CI-benefits scale indicated strong parent perceptions of
benefits of implantation for children in both groups.
Conclusion: Based on parents’ proxy report, findings suggest that having
DD affects multiple domains of HRQoL among young children with
CIs above and beyond that of the CI itself. Parents of deaf children with
DD may need greater support through the CI process and follow-up than
parents of deaf children without DD.