Impact of cochlear implantation on speech understanding, depression, and loneliness in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To compare speech understanding ability, the level of depression, and the degree of loneliness experienced by elderly cochlear implant (CI) users (>or= 70 years), adult CI users (<or= 60 years), and elderly hearing aid (HA) users (>or= 70 years).


METHODS
Clinical study.


METHODS
Tertiary academic neuro-otologic and audiologic centre.


METHODS
Three groups of patients were enrolled: (1) nine unilateral CI users 70 years or older at the time of implantation (mean 77.7 years), (2) eight unilateral CI users 60 years or younger at the time of implantation (mean 51.1 years), and (3) nine bilateral HA users 70 years or older (mean 77.5 years). Subjects underwent speech perception testing and completed two scales regarding their perceived levels of depression (pre-/post-CI) and feelings of loneliness (pre-/post-CI).


METHODS
Speech understanding scores in quiet and in noise and quality of life indicators (UCLA Loneliness Questionnaire, Geriatric Depression Screening Scale).


RESULTS
There were no perioperative complications. No significant differences in speech understanding ability in quiet or in noise between elderly and younger CI patients were observed (p < .05). Cochlear implantation decreased perceived depression in elderly recipients and loneliness in both elderly and younger recipients. Finally, elderly CI users were no more depressed or lonely than their age-matched peers with mild-to-moderate hearing loss who use HAs.


CONCLUSIONS
Cochlear implantation in elderly patients results in speech perception abilities comparable to those of younger CI recipients, as well as measurable improvements in depression and loneliness.
Poissant
Sarah F
SF
Communication Disorders Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, USA. spoissant@comdis.umass.edu
Beaudoin
Francesca
F
Huang
Jiayi
J
Brodsky
Jacob
J
Lee
Daniel J
DJ
D000368:Aged; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires