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Original Articles

Cognitive function and quality of life in older adult patients with cochlear implants

ORCID Icon, , , & ORCID Icon
Pages 316-322 | Received 04 Mar 2019, Accepted 19 Nov 2019, Published online: 03 Dec 2019
 

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the benefits of cochlear implant (CI) on speech perception, quality of life (QoL), and cognitive function in profoundly deafened older adults.

Design: Longitudinal and cross-sectional cohort study.

Study sample: Participants in this study were CI recipients aged 65 years or older (experimental group), CI recipients aged 50 years or younger (control group 1), and normal-hearing participants aged 65 years or older (control group 2).

Results: Speech perception significantly improved in both groups of implanted patients (preoperative vs. 1-year median [IQR] sentence recognition: older patients, 0 (0–20) vs. 90 (70–95), p = 0.001; younger patients, 35 (0–50) vs. 90 (80–100), p = 0.001). There were no significant differences in QoL (Glasgow Benefit Inventory) between younger and older patients (median [IQR] overall benefit score, 42 (31–64) vs. 53 (39–69), p = 0.2). Mini-Mental State Examination scores showed no significant differences between elderly CI recipients and normal-hearing participants (median [IQR], 28 (26–28) vs. 28 (27–29), p = 0.5).

Conclusions: Cochlear implantation rehabilitation allows the profoundly deafened older adult to lead a QoL comparable to that of a younger patient. The correlation between hearing restoration and cognitive function preservation in older adults suggest a possible role for CI as a useful resource in limiting age-related cognitive decline.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no conflicts of interest and no funding sources to declare.

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