Quality of life outcomes for cochlear implantation in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether individuals older than 60 years of age suffering from profound, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss and unable to use hearing aids can benefit from a cochlear implant in order to improve hearing performance. Additionally, to evaluate how they manage the external components of their implanted system.


METHODS
The records of 68 cochlear implant users over 60 years of age were reviewed. They had undergone tonal and speech audiometry evaluations of hearing before and after implantation. A subset of 27 elderly patients were asked to respond to a specially designed questionnaire regarding the use of the external components of the implanted system.


RESULTS
Patients over 60 years of age benefit from cochlear implants. The earlier the implantation, the better the results tend to be. Certain limitations when using the external components of the implanted system were evident among the elderly.


CONCLUSIONS
People >60 years of age suffering from profound, bilateral, sensorineural hearing loss show improved hearing performance following cochlear implantation. Using the implanted system includes some limitations that should be studied and overcome.
Alicia
A
Huarte
Rosario
R
Lezaun
Manuel
M
Manrique
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D015331:Cohort Studies; D061345:Early Medical Intervention; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies