Abstract

BRANDAO, Maria Piedade  and  REBELO, Cristiana. A Systematic Review of Quality of Life Instruments in the Elderly after Cochlear Implantation. Port J Public Health [online]. 2017, vol.35, n.1, pp.10-18. ISSN 2504-3137.  https://doi.org/10.1159/000477645.

Introduction: Hearing loss is a health problem that affects over 275 million people worldwide and it is the most common sensory deficit in the elderly. The aim of this study was to identify quality of life instruments that have been validated in older people with hearing loss submitted to cochlear implant and to review the studies that have used the quality of life instruments in their relationship with the specificity of postlingual bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss in this population. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted from January 1900 to June 2012. Validated instruments that were used in persons aged ≥65 years with postlingual bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss who underwent cochlear implantation were reviewed. The search was limited to studies in English language. Results: The review identified a total of 7 validated instruments. Of these, 1 was specially designed for the specific disease and 6 for the general conditions of persons with hearing loss. The methodological quality of all articles was assessed according to the STROBE recommendations, and all items were classified in category B. Conclusions: The results of this systematic review can help health professionals and researchers select the most appropriate instruments to assess the changes in quality of life in elderly with cochlear implantation.

Keywords : Quality of life; Elderly; Hearing loss; Cochlear implantation.

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