Factors that affect the social well-being of children with cochlear implants.

The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with the level of social well-being for cochlear implanted children and to estimate effect-related odds ratios for the children's well-being. Another aim was to analyse associations between speech and language level and the level of social well-being. Data relate to 167 children with cochlear implants. In structural interviews, parents rated their children's level of social well-being regarding the degree of their child's personal-social adjustment. Five different factors were considered. Logistic regression models and proportional odds models were used to analyse the relationship between the considered factors and the assessments. The analyses showed that the communication mode at home was the most highly associated factor. A statistically significant association was found between the level of social well-being and speech understanding, speech production and vocabulary. Children who were exposed to a spoken language had considerably better odds of having a high level of social well-being compared to children with a mixture of spoken language and sign support or sign language.

Self-esteem and social well-being of children with cochlear implant compared to normal-hearing children.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to make a quantitative comparison of parameters of self-esteem and social well-being between children with cochlear implants and normal-hearing children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data were obtained from 164 children with cochlear implant (CI) and 2169 normal-hearing children (NH). Parental questionnaires, used in a national survey assessing the self-esteem and well-being of normal-hearing children, were applied to the cochlear implanted group, in order to allow direct comparisons. RESULTS: The children in the CI group rated significantly higher on questions about well-being in kindergarten/school and the CI boys appeared to manage school work better than normal-hearing boys. CI children were significantly more active and bullied other children less than normal-hearing peers, whereas no difference existed as to being bullied by other children. No difference was obtained regarding overall self-esteem or number of friends. The two groups of children scored similarly on being confident, independent, social, not worried and happy. CONCLUSION: Children with cochlear implant score equal to or better than their normal-hearing peers on matters of self-esteem and social well-being.