The relationship between the speech perception and the degree of satisfaction among adult users of cochlear implants

Summary

Introduction: In recent years, the benefits associated with the use of cochlear implants (CIs), especially with regard to speech perception, have proven to surpass those produced by the use of hearing aids, making CIs a highly efficient resource for patients with severe/profound hearing loss. However, few studies so far have assessed the satisfaction of adult users of CIs.

Objective: To analyze the relationship between the level of speech perception and degree of satisfaction of adult users of CI.

Method: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted in the Audiological Research Center (CPA) of the Hospital of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo (HRAC/USP), in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 12 users of CIs with pre-lingual or post-lingual hearing loss participated in this study. The following tools were used in the assessment: a questionnaire, “Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life” (SADL), culturally adapted to Brazilian Portuguese, as well as its relationship with the speech perception results; a speech perception test under quiet conditions; and the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT)Brazil under free field conditions.

Results: The participants in the study were on the whole satisfied with their devices, and the degree of satisfaction correlated positively with the ability to perceive monosyllabic words under quiet conditions. The satisfaction did not correlate with the level of speech perception in noisy environments.

Conclusion: Assessments of satisfaction may help professionals to predict what other factors, in addition to speech perception, may contribute to the satisfaction of CI users in order to reorganize the intervention process to improve the users' quality of life.

Keywords

Cochlear Implantation - Hearing Loss - Adult - Auditory Perception

• References

• 1 Bento RF , et al. Resultados auditivos com o implante coclear multicanal em pacientes submetidos a cirurgia no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Rev Bras Otorrinolaringol 2004; 70 (5) 632-7
• 2 Bevilacqua MC, Banhara MR, Costa EA, Vignoly AB, Alvarenga KF. The Brazilian Portuguese Hearing In Noise Test (HINT). Int J Audiol 2008; 47 (6) 364-365
• 3 Carpenter RM. Correlates of sensorial hearing loss and their effects on hearing aid benefit and implications for cochlear implantation. In: Niparko JK. Cochlear Implants: principles & Pratices. 2nd ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott Willians & Wilkins; 2009. p. 83–93
• 4 Cox RM, Alexander GC. Measuring satisfaction with amplification in daily life: The SADL Scale. Ear Hear 1999; 20 (4) 306-20
• 5 Davidson LS, Geers AE, Blamey PJ, Tobey EA, Brenner CA. Factors contributing to speech perception scores in long-term pediatric cochlear implant users. Ear Hear 2011; 32 (1) 19-26
• 6 Espiridião M, Trad LAB. Avaliação de Satisfação de usuários. Ciência e Saúde Coletiva 2005; 10: 303-12
• 7 Humes LE, Halling D, Coughlin M. Reliability and stability of various hearing-aid outcome measures in a group of elderly hearing-aid wearers. J Speech Hear Res 1996; 39: 923-35
• 8 Krueger B, Joseph G, Rost U, Strauss-Schier A, Lenarz T, Buechner A. Performance groups in adult cochlear implant users: speech percep¬tion results from 1984 until today. Otol Neurotol 2008; 29 (4) 509-12
• 9 Lassaletta L, Castro A, Bastarrica M, de Sarria MJ, Gavilan J. Quality of life in postlingually deaf patients following cochlear implantation. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2006; 263: 267-70
• 10 Looi V, Mackenzie M, Bird P, Lawrenson R. Quality-oflife outcomes for adult cochlear implant recipients in New Zealand. N Z Med J 2011; 124 (1340): 21-34
• 11 Mondelli MFC, Magalhães FF, Lauris JRP. Adaptação cultural do questionário SADL (Satisfaction with Amplification in Daily Life) para o português brasileiro. Braz. J. otorhinolaryngol 2011; 77 (5) 563-72
• 12 Ou H, Dunn CC, Bentler RA, Zhang X. Measuring Cochlear Implant Satisfaction in Postlingually Deafened Adults with the SADL Inventory. J Am Acad Audiol 2008; 9: 721-34
• 13 Ross M. Consumer satisfaction is not enough; Hearing Aid still about hearing. Hearing Research. [Internet] 2007; [cited 2012 Jul 5]. Available from: http://www.hearingresearch.org/ross.htm
• 14 Tanamati LF, Bevilacqua MC, Costa OA. Cochlear implant in postlingual children: functional results 10 years after the surgery. Braz J Otorhinolaryngol 2012; 78 (2) 103-10
• 15 Tateya T, Funabiki K, Naito Y, Fujiki N, Morita T. Factors influencing satisfaction of cochlear implant users—a questionnaire- based study. Nippon Jibiinkoka Gakkai Kaiho 2000; 103: 1272-80
• 16 Tyler RS, Summerfield AQ. Cochlear implantation: relationships with research on auditory deprivation and acclimatization. Ear Hear 1996; 17 (38) 523-39
• 17 Yamamoto CH, Ferrari DV. Relação entre limiares audiométricos, handicap e tempo para procura de tratamento da deficiência auditiva. Rev Soc Bras Fonoaudiol 2012; 17 (2) 135-41
• 18 Zwolan TA, Kileny PR, Telian SA. Self-report of cochlear implant use and satisfaction by prelingually deafened adults. Ear Hear 1996; 17: 198-210