Self-Reported Voice-Related Quality of Life in Cochlear Implant Users

Pasquale Bottalico, Abel Plachno, Charles J. Nudelman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective. The aim of this study was to identify if cochlear implant (CI) users are perceiving a decrease in life quality due to voice problems. This study evaluated 43 CI user’s perception of their voice and how it affects their quality of life through a survey. Approach. Forty-three CI users responded to a survey regarding their demographics, details about their CI, the Hearing Health Quick Test (HHQT), the Voice Related Quality of Life (V-RQOL), and the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10). The survey responses were analyzed using univariate linear regression analysis. Results. Few of the CI users scored below the cut off for normal voice related quality of life. CI users averaged 93.4 out of 100 on the V-RQOL and only four scored abnormally for the VHI-10. Lower scores on the V-RQOL were correlated with the participants having an associate degree and with participants visiting friends, family, and neighbors less often due to hearing loss. The VHI-10 scores were correlated with gender, education levels, difficulty in social situations due to hearing loss, noise exposure, and tinnitus. Limitations of the study. The small n was the primary limitation of this study. Originality. This study was one of the first to examine the voice-related quality of life in CI users. Conclusions. Overall, respondents did not perceive much voice-related difficulty. However, they were more likely to perceive voice-related difficulty if they experienced difficulty hearing in noise and avoided social situations due to hearing loss.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)69-92
Number of pages24
JournalRevista de Investigacion e Innovacion en Ciencias de la Salud
Volume5
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2023

Keywords

  • Cochlear implant
  • Hearing Health Quick Test
  • Voice Handicap Index
  • Voice Related Quality of Life
  • hearing loss
  • noise exposure
  • quality of life
  • tinnitus
  • vocal dysfunction
  • voice quality

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health Professions (miscellaneous)
  • Physical Therapy, Sports Therapy and Rehabilitation
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
  • Speech and Hearing

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