Comparison of utility measures and auditory performance in children with cochlear implants and hearing aids in India: a cross-sectional study

TL;DR

This study compares cochlear implants and hearing aids in Indian children, finding that implants significantly improve quality of life and auditory performance.

Contribution

The first Indian study to evaluate long-term quality of life outcomes in children with cochlear implants and hearing aids using multiple utility measures.

Findings

Cochlear implants outperformed hearing aids in health utility and auditory performance scores.

HUI-3 was more effective than EQ-5D in capturing hearing-related quality of life improvements.

Strong correlations were found between auditory performance and health utility scores.

Abstract

•First Indian study to evaluate long-term QOL outcomes in CI and HA children.•Multi-tool analysis reveals cochlear implants greatly outperform hearing aids.•HUI-3 effectively captures hearing-related QOL gains missed by EQ-5D.•Functional auditory outcomes strongly linked to improved health utility scores.•Robust evidence supporting CI as the superior intervention for paediatric deafness.

First Indian study to evaluate long-term QOL outcomes in CI and HA children.

Multi-tool analysis reveals cochlear implants greatly outperform hearing aids.

HUI-3 effectively captures hearing-related QOL gains missed by EQ-5D.

Functional auditory outcomes strongly linked to improved health utility scores.

Robust evidence supporting CI as the superior intervention for paediatric deafness.

Hearing loss significantly impacts auditory function and quality of life in children. Assessing Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) using utility measures provides valuable insight into the effectiveness of interventions such as Cochlear Implants (CI) and Hearing Aids (HA). To compare HRQoL using multiple utility measures (HUI-3, EQ-5D-5 L, VAS) and functional auditory performance (PEACH, TEACH) in children with cochlear implants, hearing aids, and unaided severe to profound hearing loss.

Ninety children aged 7–10 years were divided into three groups (n = 30 each): CI users, HA users, and children with unaided severe to profound hearing loss. Utility measures and auditory performance scales were administered. Statistical analysis involved ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation.

CI users exhibited the highest utility scores (HUI-3 = 0.68964; EQ-5D = 0.88446) and auditory performance scores (PEACH = 37; TEACH = 25.83). Strong correlations were found between utility scores and auditory performance. HUI-3 showed greater sensitivity in detecting hearing-specific QOL improvements.

Cochlear implantation results in superior HRQoL and auditory performance compared to hearing aids. Use of sensitive, hearing-specific tools like HUI-3 is recommended.

Non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study.

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