Introduction: Hearing impairment can deteriorate cognitive functions and contribute to social isolation and loneliness, which can lead to a poorer quality of life. People with hearing impairment often cite discrimination by the society, difficult communication, inability to fully integrate into social groups, difficulty understanding speech and signals via electronic devices, inability to follow public events and experiencing negative emotions as factors that negatively affect their quality of life. Deaf or hard of hearing adults whom the hearing aid no longer provides sufficient assistance can use a cochlear implant, which allows them to perceive sound in a different way. The cochlear implant system converts environment sounds into encoded electrical impulses, which are transmitted directly to the auditory nerve. Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to gain insight into the change in the quality of life of postlingually deaf and hard of hearing adults after hearing rehabilitation with a cochlear implant, based on a review of professional and scientific literature. Methods: A descriptive method of work was used. A thematic review of professional and scientific literature on the quality of life after cochlear implant implantation was conducted, with articles searched in the following databases: Medline, CINAHL, Science Direct and COBIB.SI. Data processing was performed by reviewing selected scientific and professional literature, which was found between February 2021 and May 2021 and met the inclusion criteria, purpose and aims of the paper. Results: The results show that after cochlear implant implantation, the quality of life of postlingually deaf and hard of hearing adults improved. After the implantation, cochlear implant users' abilities to perceive environmental sounds, participate in conversations with several people at the same time, use a telephone and understand speech without watching the interlocutor significantly improved. According to the results of specific questionnaires for measuring the quality of life, their speech production, self-esteem and social functioning also improved. Discussion and conclusion: Based on a thematic review of literature, it was found that cochlear implant implantation has several positive effects on the quality of life of postlingually deaf and hard of hearing adults and their communication partners. Rehabilitation with a cochlear implant enabled them to transform from alienation or isolation and return to normality. »The return to the hearing world« has increased users’ autonomy. The reduced need for an interpreter, whose role was often taken over by their close ones, enabled relatives to experience a reduced level of distress.
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