Investigation of the health of the significant other of people on the cochlear implant waiting list

Abstract

Background: Adult cochlear implant funding is limited in New Zealand. Many people must wait upon a waiting list for over a year. Previous research (Guitar, 2010; Hensman, 2012) investigated the physical and mental health of people on the cochlear implant (CI) waiting list in comparison with CI recipients. Their findings indicated that those on the wait list experienced greater stress and as a result poor sleep quality and a greater number of physical health issues in comparison to cochlear implant recipients. As such stress may be reduced by cochlear implantation. However, their research did not consider the stress and health of the significant other (SO) who supports these individuals. Aims: To investigate the health of the significant other of people on the cochlear implant waiting list. Method: This study used both a quantitative and a qualitative methodology. A questionnaire designed to assess the stress, sleep and health was used to explore the effect of cochlear implantation on SOs. Interviews were also conducted to gain insight into the experiences, consequences and emotions from the significant others point of view of what living and supporting a partner on the CI waiting list was like. Results: Significant others of those on the wait list had increased stress and decreased social quality of life but no difference in sleep quality in comparison to the significant others of CI recipients. Interviews revealed that their partners hearing loss had a profound effect on the lives of significant others with key stressors being communication difficulties, negative social impact and powerlessness. These had adverse effects on their relationship and intimacy as well as negative emotional consequences. Conclusion: SOs of CI waiting list persons were more stressed and had poorer social health than the SOs of CI recipients. However, there was no difference in other health domains nor in sleep quality. The interviews provided detail into what the reality of living through the CI process is like and revealed that it is highly stressful for SOs. The negative impact their partners hearing loss has upon their lives could be reduced if there was in increase in the availability of CIs.