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Updated: Jun 24, 2025
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Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
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Do people with cognitive impairment benefit from cochlear implants? A scoping review
Piers Dawes1,2, Hannah Cross3, Rebecca Millman3
1School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Centre for Hearing Research (CHEAR), University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. p.dawes@uq.edu.au.
Summary
Cochlear implants improve speech recognition for individuals with cognitive impairment or dementia. Further research is needed to understand broader benefits and support requirements for these patients and their caregivers.
Area of Science:
- Audiology and Gerontology
- Neuroscience and Rehabilitation
Background:
- Cognitive impairment and dementia significantly impact communication abilities.
- Hearing loss is prevalent in older adults, often co-occurring with cognitive decline.
- Cochlear implantation is a potential intervention for hearing loss in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review evidence on cochlear implant benefits for individuals with cognitive impairment or dementia.
- To evaluate outcomes including speech recognition, quality of life, and cognitive function.
- To assess impacts on behavioral symptoms and caregiver burden.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of ten electronic databases up to December 2023.
- Inclusion of studies reporting cochlear implant outcomes in adults with cognitive impairment, mild cognitive impairment, or dementia.
- Analysis of thirteen studies involving 222 cochlear implant patients.
Main Results:
- Cochlear implants demonstrate benefits for speech recognition in individuals with cognitive impairment.
- The extent of speech recognition improvement correlates with the level of cognitive impairment.
- No increased adverse events were observed in this group; evidence for other outcomes was limited.
Conclusions:
- Cochlear implants offer benefits for speech recognition in people with cognitive impairment or dementia.
- Further research is essential to clarify broader benefits and specific support needs.
- Findings can inform policy and clinical practice regarding cochlear implantation for this demographic.
