台灣成人電子耳植入者之使用現況調查

台灣自1990年左右引進電子耳植入術至今已18年，估計約有400位重度至極重度聽覺障礙的成人個案，但卻很少研究提及這些個案的使用狀況以及使用者對電子耳的主觀評價。故本研究的主要目的在於透過收集聽障成人電子耳植入者的個人背景、使用狀況、儀器操作與維護、補助金額與來源等，進行整理分析，以便瞭解其使用現況，同時對電子耳相關政策提出建言。研究工具為研究小組自行設計的電子耳使用狀況問卷，問卷發放有直接寄發與電子耳中心代為發放兩種方式，共發出223份問卷，回收61份，回收率為27.35%。個案年齡範圍為18至75歲，其中73.8%的填答者在40歲以下，23名在職(40.4%)，19名(33.3%)在學，14名(24.56%)無業。以下就CI使用情形、自覺聽覺困難的程度、使用口語溝通的百分比、以及植入CI是否正確等面向分別描述之。三分之二的人自述經常且持續的使用電子耳，每日使用時數超過8小時的也佔了75%；40名患者(70%)認為植入後沒有聽覺困難或僅有輕微困難；使用口語溝通的人數百分比從術前的34人(55.74%)增加至術後的44人(72.13%0；大多數(80%)的個案認為電子耳植入對他們而言是一項正確的決定，有2人(3.28%)則認為植入電子耳是非常不正確的決定。整體而言，大多數的成人植入者對於電子耳有正面的評價，唯個體間差異極大。本研究結果顯示電子耳植入者的自我陳述與使用狀況調查，不僅可提供聽障成人、醫師、聽覺專業人員第一手的寶貴資料，也可作為政府在擬定電子耳相關政策時的參考依據。

關鍵字

電子耳；聽覺障礙；成人；聽力損失；電子耳使用現況

並列摘要

It is estimated about 400 adults with severe-to-profound hearing impairment in Taiwan have received cochlear implantation since 1990. However, few studies have been done on the daily use of cochlear implant (CI) and subjective evaluation by implantees. The aim of this study was to conduct a questionnaire survey on adult CI users so as to obtain crucial information including demographic data, device usage, maintenance and expense, funding, and comments on government policy of CI. Around 200 questionnaires were sent to CI recipients through several medical centers and 61 questionnaires were returned. The majority of these CI users (73.77%) are young adults, aged between 18 and 40. While 23 patients (40.4%) were employed and 19 (33.3%) were at school, 14 (24.56%) were unemployed. Two-third of them used their devices more than 8 hours every day. 40 patients (70%) reported that they had little or no hearing difficulty in daily listening situation. The percentage of using oral communication had increased from 55.7% to 72.1% after implantation. Most implant users stated that receiving a CI was a correct decision. In conclusion, the results showed that adult CI users perceived significant benefit from their implants. The results of self report by CI users also provided valuable information for those considering cochlear implantation, surgeons, hearing professionals, and the government policy makers.