A Systematic Review on the Effectiveness of Early Cochlear implantation on Quality of life

Abstract

This systematic review aims to look into the impact of early cochlear implantation on quality of life. This review compares the effect of cochlear implantation on quality of life (QoL) for children based on their age of implantation. The study used a literature search of electronic databases (e.g., Pub Med, Google Scholar, J stage, Research Gate, Science direct) and the AIISH repository from 2015 to October 2020. The retrieved articles were assessed in two stages: title and abstract screening, followed by a full-length article review. Eight articles were selected after the full length article review out of 340 shortlisted articles. Among the selected studies, four used the cohort design, two used the cross-sectional design, and two used the case-control design. Parents and self-reported questionnaires were used to evaluate the quality of life. Early detection and rehabilitation improved auditory ability and quality of life in younger children. If the child's auditory stimulation and surroundings provided adequate auditory information, implant at a later age also (> 24-36 months) produced similar outcomes. To completely understand the context and various levels of effect of CI on QoL, investigations on QoL in children should involve longer follow-up periods. The impact of parent and child status on quality of life is an issue that merits additional investigation. It is likely to differ significantly depending on the quality of life instruments used, respondents, and methods of follow-up provided.