[Prediction of verbal and numerical comprehension in patients with cochlear implants].
BACKGROUND
Cognitive abilities determine the outcome of cochlear implantation. Neuropsychological tests of intellectual, memory, attentional and emotional functions were applied pre-operatively in 33 deaf patients receiving a cochlear implant. The outcome of verbal and numerical comprehension was measured in a subgroup of 14 patients post-operatively and correlated with pre-operative neuropsychological performance.


METHODS
Neuropsychological performance was recorded using standardized tests for intellectual abilities (abbreviated Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale [WAIS], crystallized intelligence scale), memory performance (Benton Visual Retention Test), attentional functions (d2 letter-cancellation-test), reaction time (Vienna Reaction Test) and emotional state (personality inventories). Verbal and numerical comprehension was measured post-operatively following adaptation of the speech processor. Performance and comprehension data were correlated.


RESULTS
Cognitive performance parameters did not differ significantly from those of a healthy group. There was a correlation of r = +0.65 between numerical comprehension and the "mosaic-test", a subtest of the WAIS and of r = +0.78 between numerical comprehension and the crystallized intelligence scale.


CONCLUSIONS
Pre-operative cognitive parameters may predict the outcome of cochlear implants.
Kropp
P
P
Institut für Medizinische Psychologie, Universitätsklinikum Kiel. kropp@med-psych.uni-kiel.de
Niederberger
U
U
Gerber
W D
WD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003071:Cognition; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011930:Reaction Time; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D013067:Speech Perception; D014888:Wechsler Scales