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Published on: January 9, 2019
Benefits of cochlear implantation in deafened adults
Aim:
The objective was to retrospectively analyze the benefits of cochlear implantation in deafened elderly (>65 years old).
Method:
Data from 30 elderly patients with a unilateral cochlear implant were included and analyzed. Audiometric threshold and speech data in aided and unaided conditions were examined at pre- and postimplant intervals at 3, 6, and 12 months after activation of the sound processor and compared.
Results:
All patients demonstrated hearing benefits after implant and over time with results ranging from very good, good, to limited performance in a few cases. The mean postimplantation follow-up time was 2.74 years (minimum 1 year). Our study cohort demonstrates that cochlear implantation is a successful treatment method for improving speech perception in the auditory alone or auditory-visual mode for the majority of elderly patients. No correlations were observed between postimplant outcomes and age, or preimplant hearing thresholds and speech audiometry.
Conclusion:
Age is not a determining or limiting factor for post-CI outcome performance in deafened elderly patients. Counselling should consider the patient as a whole and include explanation of the risk for a minority of elderly patients who may demonstrate poor outcomes after implant, despite presenting as good candidates before implantation.
