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Updated: Feb 21, 2026
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Assessing Cochlear Implant Outcomes in Older Adults Using HERMES: A National Web-based Database
Stephanie Y Chen1, Jedidiah J Grisel, Anne Lam
1*Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York †Head and Neck Surgical Associates ‡Auditory Implant Initiative, Wichita Falls, Texas.
A new national web-based cochlear implant (CI) database proves feasible for tracking outcomes. Older adults showed similar CI use and complication rates, with age not significantly impacting hearing scores.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Biomedical Informatics
- Gerontology
Background:
- Cochlear implant (CI) research is often limited to retrospective, single-institution studies.
- Evaluating CI outcomes in diverse patient populations, including older adults, is crucial for understanding device efficacy.
- A national, web-based database offers a novel approach to overcome limitations in current CI outcomes research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the feasibility of a novel, national, web-based CI database for tracking outcomes.
- To evaluate CI outcomes in older adult patients compared to younger adults.
- To assess the impact of age on audiological performance and device usage.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of a prospective, national, web-based CI database (HERMES) across 18 US medical centers.
- Comparison of CI outcomes between older (≥75 years) and younger (<75 years) adult patients.
- Assessment of Arizona Biomedical (AzBio) scores, CI usage, and postoperative complications.
Main Results:
- Older adults (n=47) had slightly lower AzBio scores (56.0%) than younger adults (74.0%), but age was not a significant predictor after adjusting for other factors.
- CI usage was similar between groups (11.4 h/day in older vs. 13.0 h/day in younger) and did not decline over time.
- Postoperative complications like vertigo and tinnitus occurred at similar rates in both age groups.
Conclusions:
- A user-friendly, national, web-based CI database is feasible for analyzing CI outcomes.
- Older age is not a significant predictor of AzBio scores when controlling for multiple factors.
- Cochlear implant use remains consistent over time, regardless of age group.
