Abstract

Background: Hearing impairment is an important public health concern, particularly in developing countries, yet awareness of its causes and available interventions remains limited. Cochlear implantation is an effective treatment for individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss (HL) who obtain limited benefit from conventional hearing aids. This study aimed to assess knowledge and perceptions of cochlear implantation among residents of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among residents of Al-Ahsa using a structured online self-administered questionnaire. Data from 702 participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.
Results: Overall, 63.0% of participants had heard of cochlear implants (CIs), and 79.8% recognized the benefits of early implantation for hearing and speech development. However, only 47.7% knew that cochlear implantation is not limited to children, 24.1% recognized that an external device remains necessary after implantation, 22.6% understood that hearing does not return immediately, and 51.3% recognized the continued need for speech and hearing rehabilitation. Knowledge and perceptions differed significantly according to sex, age, educational level, healthcare-field status, and personal or family history of HL.
Conclusion: Important knowledge gaps and misconceptions regarding cochlear implantation remain among the public in Al-Ahsa. Targeted educational initiatives are needed to improve awareness of CI candidacy, expected outcomes, external components, early diagnosis, and postoperative rehabilitation.

Key words: Knowledge; Perception; Cochlear implantation; Hearing loss; Al-Ahsa; Saudi Arabia.