title: [Surgical Risk Profile and Audiological Outcome in the Elderly after Cochlea-implantation].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of elderly patients with indication for cochlear implantation is increasing. Our aim was to investigate whether seniors with cochlea implants differ from younger patients with regard to hearing improvement, surgical complications and rehabilitation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients older than 60 years (ys) having received a cochlea implant in 2007-2012 were included (Group I 60-70 ys; Group II <70 ys). Preoperative risk factors according to ASA-Criteria and postoperative complications were analyzed. Improvements in quality of live were evaluated by questionnaire. Audiological outcome was tested by Freiburger speech test and OLSA sentence test with background noise. Patients with comparable conditions for cochlea implantation between 40 and 59 years of age served as control group (Group K).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient cohort consisted of 94 patients, 29 of which being older than 70 years. Severe complications were inexistent postoperatively. Gr. II achieved a speech perception for numbers of 95% (65 dB) and 50% (65 dB) for monosyllables. The speech perception in Gr. II was not significantly different from Gr. I or K. According to the quality of life test all groups experienced an improvement in their social life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Old age itself is no contraindication to cochlea implantation. It has little influence on the postoperative speech perception even though the learning curve of the elderly rises slower. However, careful assessment with regard to surgical risk factors and expected outcome is necessary.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Büchsenschütz
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arnolds
authors.affiliation: CIC Ruhr, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bagus
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fahimi
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Günnicker
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Hals-Nasen-Ohren-Heilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, Essen.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arweiler-Harbeck
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000523:psychology; D003638:Deafness / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011304:Presbycusis / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test