Concurrent Cognitive Task Alters Postural Control Performance of Young Adults With Unilateral Cochlear Implants

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Unilateral cochlear implants (CIs) aim to restore hearing but can impact sensorimotor functions.
• Balance control relies on integrated sensory information, including visual, vestibular, and somatosensory inputs.
• Dual-tasking requires simultaneous cognitive and motor processing, potentially challenging individuals with impaired sensory systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the balance performance of young adults with unilateral cochlear implants (CIs) under dual-task conditions.
• To compare the balance abilities of CI users with healthy individuals during concurrent cognitive and motor tasks.

Main Methods:

• A Sensory Organization Test (SOT) using Computerized Dynamic Posturography assessed balance in 15 unilateral CI users and 15 controls.
• A Backward Digit Recall task served as the concurrent cognitive task.
• Balance was evaluated under four conditions of increasing difficulty, both as single-task and dual-task.

Main Results:

• CI users demonstrated significantly lower visual, vestibular, and composite balance scores than controls.
• CI users' balance scores were significantly lower in challenging conditions (3, 4, 6) during single-tasking.
• In dual-tasking, CI users' Condition 6 balance scores were significantly lower than controls, and Condition 1 scores decreased compared to single-tasking.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with unilateral CIs exhibit impaired balance during dual-task conditions compared to healthy peers.
• Integrating dual-task balance assessments into vestibular rehabilitation programs is recommended for CI users.
• Such integration may enhance balance in multitasking situations and mitigate fall risks.