Relationship between cognition, quality of life and speech perception in over 65-year-olds after unilateral cochlear implantation

Objective The aim of the recent study was the evaluation of the relationship between cognitive abilities, quality of life (QoL) and speech perception (SP) in over 65-year-old bilateral hearing-impaired patients after unilateral cochlear implantation (CI).

Patient and method: This prospective study with a follow-up of at least 12 months comprises 33 post-lingual deafened and hard of hearing CI candidates aged 65 years or older (76.1  ±  4.98 years) with unilateral CI. The cognitive abilities were assessed by working memory (AG) and processing speed (VG) (Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale 4th ed., WAIS-IV). The QoL (NCIQ), the SP (Freiburg monosyllabic test, Oldenburg sentence test) and depression (ADS-L) were examined preoperatively and postoperatively after 6 and 12 months and statistically analysed.

Results Postoperatively, cognitive performance and SP improved significantly (p  < 0.05). The QoL in this group was already at a high level both preoperatively and postoperatively. Depression was consistently low in the follow-up. There was a significantly positive correlation between the VG and the SP (p  < 0.05) and the preoperative social activity of the QoL with the postoperative processing speed after 12 months (p  < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results confirm the relationship between increasing hearing and increasing cognitive performance and also point to social activity as a predictor of the success of care for older patients with CI.

Poster-PDF A-1331.pdf

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021