Self-reported mental health in teenagers who received CI before the age of 2.5 years in relation to typical hearing peers and parents of both groups.

No significant differences in SDQ total or subscale scores were found between teenagers with CI and teenagers with typical hearing.

• Teenagers with CI (n=26) and teenagers with TH (n=57) were compared using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) self-report version.
• Both total scores and all subscale scores were compared between groups with no significant differences detected.
• All CI recipients had received their implants before 2.5 years of age.
• The authors interpret this as a 'positive development trend' compared to findings from previous studies.

Among teenagers who reported clear difficulties, the challenges had persisted for a longer period of time for the CI group compared to the TH group.

• This difference in duration of difficulties was observed despite the absence of significant differences in SDQ scores between the two groups.
• The finding was based on self-reports from the SDQ and background questionnaire data.
• This suggests that while the severity of difficulties may be comparable, their chronicity differs between groups.

Parents of teenagers with CI scored similarly to their children on all SDQ scales except Peer Problems and Emotional Problems.

• Parent-report and self-report SDQ versions were compared within each group.
• For the CI group, parent-child agreement was found on most subscales, with discrepancies specifically on the Peer Problems and Emotional Problems subscales.
• This pattern contrasts with the TH group, where parents scored significantly different from their children across all scales.

Parents of teenagers with typical hearing scored significantly different from their children across all SDQ scales.

• Parent-report and self-report SDQ scores were compared within the TH group (n=57).
• Significant differences between parent and child reports were found on all scales for the TH group.
• This is in contrast to the CI group, where parent-child agreement was found on most but not all scales.

The study used the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) in both self-report and parent-report versions to assess mental health in both groups.

• The CI group comprised 26 teenagers who had received cochlear implants before the age of 2.5 years.
• The TH group comprised 57 teenagers with typical hearing serving as peers.
• SDQ total and subscale scores were compared between groups, between teenagers and their parents, and in relation to background characteristics collected via a purpose-developed questionnaire.
• Background factors potentially associated with mental health outcomes were also explored.