title: The role of age on cochlear implant performance, use, and health utility: a multicenter clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use data obtained in a multicenter clinical trial to evaluate factors affecting performance with an implant, with special emphasis on the effect of age on performance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Post hoc analyses of data collected during a multicenter prospective study to evaluate performance with a recently introduced cochlear implant (CI) system conducted at 13 academic centers in the United States. Subjects participated in speech recognition testing in quiet and noise and completed questionnaires regarding health utility and processor use.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight adults with moderate to profound hearing loss who ranged in age from 18 to 89 years. Subjects were divided into younger (<65 yr, n = 20) and older (≥65 yr, n = 18) groups for the analyses.
  
  
  METHODS
  All subjects received a multichannel CI system. Preimplant to postimplant change in speech recognition was evaluated for each group, and the performance of the two groups was compared. Postimplant performance of older subjects who scored greater than 40% preimplant on HINT (Hearing in Noise Test) sentences was also evaluated. Linear regression was used to further evaluate the effects of variables on outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both younger and older subjects demonstrated significant improvement in speech recognition and hearing health utility after receiving a CI, and differences between groups were insignificant. Older subjects who scored greater than 40% preoperatively on HINT sentences demonstrated a significant improvement in speech recognition.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both older and younger patients can receive significant improvement in speech recognition and health utility after receiving a CI.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; †Cochlear Americas, Englewood, Colorado; ‡Division of Communication Sciences and §Koss Cochlear Implant Program, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Teresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Zwolan
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Henion
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Segel
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Runge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001299:Audiometry; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult