The role of temperament in traumatic hearing loss: a single case study of a cochlear-implanted patient

INTRODUCTION:The majority of existing research regarding cochlear-implanted patients focuses on acoustic perception and language skills in children and adolescents, or on the postoperative quality of life in adults. PURPOSE:We hypothesized that a patient's psychological reaction to a cochlear implant (CI) may be influenced by the temperament of the implanted subject. This case study aims to assess whether temperament plays a role in the adaptation to CIs and if certain temperamental and character traits may be risk or protective factors for surgery and rehabilitation outcomes. METHOD:We evaluated a 21-year-old male patient presenting a history of traumatic hearing loss. The Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI) was employed to obtain a psychological evaluation. RESULTS:The findings suggest a connection between the scores obtained on the TCI questionnaire and the patient's behavior toward the CI. The effects of the operation may be mediated by some temperamental and character traits. CONCLUSIONS:In the field of clinical psychology and hearing rehabilitation, psychological evaluation may contribute a more profound understanding of the personality dynamics that influence the patient's reaction toward traumatic hearing loss, compliance, and CI surgery outcomes.