title: Cochlear implants in adults over 60: a study of communicative benefits and the impact on quality of life.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Quantifying the improvement in quality of life (QoL) of cochlear implant (CI) patients over 60, its relation to audiometric benefits and the subjective impact on specific areas of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational retrospective study was conducted on 26 individuals (17 male and 9 female) older than 60, all implanted in our unit between 1 January 1999 and 31 January 2009. And 10 patients (5 male and 5 female) aged between 40 and 60 were the control group. A full postoperative audiological evaluation was completed. Sociodemographic characteristics and history of hearing loss were collected. To evaluate QoL benefits, the Glasgow Benefit Inventory test and the Specific Questionnaire were filled in.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients in the test and control groups had similar preoperative speech recognition levels. Preoperative audiometric thresholds were significantly worse in patients from 40 to 60 years of age although they scored better in speech recognition after implantation. Patients experienced significant improvement in their QoL in all areas, especially in general health, while they experienced a smaller improvement in social interaction. Age, duration of deafness, and years wearing the processor were statistically related to QoL regardless of audiometric benefit. Unilateral CI users and patients without tinnitus obtain better QoL although no statistical relation was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cochlear implantation improves QoL of patients over 60 by the mere fact of having been implanted, regardless of poorer audiological benefits. Older patients, with long-term deafness experience a greater improvement in QoL after implantation. The results of this study should aid other centers when counseling patients on the expected, daily functional benefits of cochlear implantation.
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario Insular Materno Infantil, Las Palmas, Spain.
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guerra-Jiménez
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borkoski
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Falcón
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology*; D003142:Communication; D003376:Counseling; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome