Outcomes of cochlear implantation in adults: a scoping review of studies with qualitative methodology

To describe the methodologies and results of qualitative studies examining cochlear implantation outcomes in adults with profound bilateral hearing impairment.
Scoping review. Study sample: Studies with qualitative or mixed-method research designs published in indexed scientific journals on cochlear implantation outcomes in adults with profound bilateral pre-or postlingual hearing impairment and uni- or bilateral cochlear implant (CI). A comprehensive search of the PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, SwePub, and DiVA databases revealed 855 records after duplicates were removed. After screening the titles and abstracts and reviewing full texts, 23 studies were included.
Grounded theory (n = 10) and thematic analysis (n = 10) were the most frequently employed qualitative methodologies. Interviews were the predominant data collection method (n = 19), followed by surveys/questionnaires with open-ended questions (n = 10). Ten domains of cochlear implantation outcomes were identified: Improved hearing and communication, life-changing experiences, changes in personality and identity, benefits for the patient’s social environment, employment-related experiences, cochlear implantation outcomes in prelingual profound deafness, music perception, tinnitus, negative experiences following cochlear implantation, and other cochlear implantation outcomes.
Qualitative research on cochlear implantation outcomes provides a nuanced understanding from the patient’s perspective, capturing a broad range of benefits and challenges often overlooked in quantitative research.