Twitter Perspectives on Cochlear Implantation: Sentiment and Thematic Analysis

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Otolaryngology
• Health Communication

Background:

• Cochlear implants (CIs) are advanced devices offering hearing restoration.
• Public perception of medical technologies significantly influences adoption and acceptance.
• Social media platforms like Twitter offer a window into public discourse on health topics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze public sentiment and identify key themes related to cochlear implants (CIs) on Twitter.
• To differentiate between positive and negative perspectives expressed in social media discussions about CIs.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional qualitative study analyzing 19,376 tweets mentioning "cochlear implant" from 2019-2021.
• Sentiment analysis using VADER to quantify tweet positivity/negativity.
• Thematic analysis of the most positive and negative tweets to identify recurring discussion points.

Main Results:

• The majority of tweets (53.5%) had a positive tone, with an average sentiment score of 0.21.
• Negative themes included media representation, controversy within the Deaf community, and non-patient-centric content.
• Positive themes focused on happiness, support, and experiences of hearing new sounds.

Conclusions:

• While public sentiment towards cochlear implants is largely positive on Twitter, stigma remains a significant issue.
• Analyzing social media discourse can inform clinical counseling and strategies to improve CI acceptance.
• Understanding public perspectives is crucial for addressing both acceptance and stigma surrounding CIs.