Powrót do świata dźwięków. Jakość życia osób niepełnosprawnych na przykładzie pacjentów po wszczepieniu implantu ślimakowego

Abstract

The objective of the article is to present a research perspective which starts with the practical problem of social life, and analyzes it by using the concept of Quality of Life. The article discusses many meanings and dimensions of this concept, while indicating its use in research practice of sociology and medicine. In this context, the authors’ point of focus is the social dimension of disability, illustrated with the example of users of cochlear implants. The authors discuss crucial questions arising in the process of cultural adaptation of the Quality of Live scale, and basic issues related to the application of the scale to the needs of precisely defined research issues. The article also discusses the results of studies on change of the quality of life of people after cochlear implantation, with particular emphasis on answers to open-ended questions, concerning their first impressions after the device has been implanted.