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Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Influencing variables in the quality of life of children with cochlear implants: a systematic review
Joice de Moura Silva1, Patricia Dominguez Campos1, Adriane Lima Mortari Moret1
1Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru, Universidade de São Paulo - USP - Bauru (SP), Brasil.
Insights
Early cochlear implantation and device use significantly improve quality of life for children. Hearing and language skills are key influencing factors in pediatric cochlear implant outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Audiology
- Quality of Life Research
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Cochlear implants (CI) are vital for children with severe hearing loss.
- Evaluating the quality of life (QoL) in pediatric CI users is complex.
- Identifying factors influencing QoL is crucial for optimizing outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review how QoL in children with CIs has been assessed.
- To critically analyze variables influencing QoL in this population.
Main Methods:
- PRISMA-guided systematic review.
- PICO strategy used for research question formulation.
- Searched multiple databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, etc.) for studies from 2009-2018 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese.
- Included studies with evidence levels 1-4.
Main Results:
- Analyzed 1062 articles, selecting 8 relevant studies.
- Selected studies published between 2009-2016, with evidence levels 2a and 4.
- Sampled children aged 18 months to 18 years, with group sizes from 10 to 259.
Conclusions:
- Early CI surgery is associated with better QoL.
- Consistent use of the cochlear implant device is important.
- Development of hearing and language skills strongly correlates with improved QoL.
Purpose:
To verify how the quality of life of children with cochlear implant was evaluated in published studies and to critically analyze which were the influencing variables.
Research Strategy:
Research guided by PRISMA recommendations. The guiding question was elaborated based on the PICO strategy, being: "Which variables are considered as influencers on the quality of life of children with cochlear implants?" The selected descriptors were cochlear implants, cochlear implants, quality of life, child and their synonyms, in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages. We have identified indexed studies in the databases: Pubmed / MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, SciELO, Embase, EBSCO / CINAHL and Web of Science.
Selection Criteria:
Selected studies were selected, with levels of scientific evidence from 1 to 4, published in the Portuguese, English and Spanish languages, from 2009 to 2018. Data analysis: initially the titles of all the studies, followed by summaries and full reading of the most relevant texts.
Results:
After the rigorous analysis of the 1062 articles, eight were classified as containing the necessary answers to the guiding question of research. The selected studies were published between 2009 and 2016, classified as evidence level 2a and 4, with a sample of between 10 and 259 children and between the ages of 18 months and 18 years.
Conclusion:
The influencing factors that correlated with the quality of life of children with cochlear implants were early implantation, use of the electronic device, hearing skills and language skills.
