Study to identify prognostic factors for the success of geriatric cochlear implant (CI) care

Introduction The loss of hearing is one of the most common physical impairments in the elderly, and it is associated with pronounced psychosocial and occupational limitations. Nowadays, hearing rehabilitation with cochlear implants (CI) has become an adequate solution for elderly patients. However, the possible benefit through improved hearing is offset by a possibly lengthy and complicated rehabilitation. Therefore, some geriatric CI-patients may need extra attention during CI-rehabilitation to achieve their individual maximum. This raises the need for preoperative indicators that identify patients with potentially compromised rehabilitation results.Methods 34 patients above the age of 65 after CI implantation were included up to this point. Preoperatively and 3-6 months following switch-on of the CI, standard audiometric tests as well as geriatric assessments are performed.Results First results show significant improvement in monosyllable comprehension in quiet surroundings (p=0.004). Gender specific prognostic factors for the progress of auditory improvement were derived from the geriatric assessment. For women a significant correlation existed between hand strength and audiometric improvements (p=0.001). For men, a significant correlation existed between the results of the TTMC money counting test and improvement in speech comprehension (p=0.012).Conclusion Preliminary data of the 3-month assessment suggest that progress of auditory rehabilitation is influenced in a gender-specific way by factors that are assessed in a routine geriatric test battery. Therefore, further investigations will include more patients and involve a follow-up period until 12 months after switch-on as well as more patients.

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Artikel online veröffentlicht:
24. Mai 2022