Unilateral Multi-Channel Cochlear Implantation Results in Significant Improvement in Quality of Life

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of unilateral multi-channel cochlear implant surgery on health-related quality of life and to determine if there is an age-related impact of cochlear implantation on these effects. DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING Tertiary health-care center. METHODS The Short Form-36 survey (SF-36) was administered to determine the health-related quality of life of 283 age-stratified patients before and after cochlear implant surgery. MAIN OUTCOMES Precochlear to postcochlear implantation changes in health-related quality of life as determined by the SF-36 questionnaire. RESULTS There were significant increases in precochlear and postcochlear implantation scores for 5 of the 8 SF-36 survey domains: vitality, physical role functioning, mental health, emotional role functioning, and social functioning. Significant differences were found between age groups in the domains of social functioning, emotion role functioning, and mental health. CONCLUSION Cochlear implant surgery significantly improves health-related quality of life as categorically stratified by the SF-36 questionnaire. These improvements were most evident in the mental health, emotional and social functioning, and physical functioning at work questions of the survey. Cochlear implant recipients younger than 65 years perceive a greater improvement in their level of energy, mental health, and social function compared with those older than 65 years.