JAMA: Cochlear implantation was associated with improved speech perception
and cognitive function in adults 65 years or older with profound hearing
loss, according to a report published online by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery.
Hearing impairment is associated with cognitive decline. In cases of
severe to profound hearing loss where there is no benefit from
conventional amplification (i.e. hearing aids), cochlear implantation
that uses direct electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve has proven
successful and selected older patients are among those who can benefit,
according to the study background.
Isabelle Mosnier, M.D., of Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris,
France, and coauthors examined the relationship between cognitive
function and hearing restoration with cochlear implantation in older
patients at 10 tertiary referral centers between 2006 and 2009. The
study included 94 patients (ages 65 to 85) with profound postlingual
(after speech has developed) hearing loss who were evaluated before
cochlear implantation and then six and 12 months after.
Results show cochlear implantation was associated with improved
speech perception in quiet and in noise, quality of life and depression
scores, with 76 percent of patients giving responses that indicate no
depression at 12 months after implantation vs. 59 percent before
implantation. As early as six months after cochlear implantation,
improved average scores in all cognitive domains were seen. More than 80
percent of the patients (30 of 37) who had the poorest cognitive scores
before implantation improved their cognitive function one year after
implantation. In contrast, patients with the best cognitive performance
before implantation showed stable postimplantation results, although
there was a decline in some patients, according to the results.
“Our study demonstrates that hearing rehabilitation using cochlear
implants in the elderly is associated with improvements in impaired
cognitive function. Further research is needed to evaluate the long-term
influence of hearing restoration on cognitive decline and its effect on
public health,” the study concludes.
(JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. Published online March 12, 2015. doi:10.1001/.jamaoto.2015.129. Available pre-embargo to the media at http://media.jamanetwork.com.)
Editor’s Note: This
work was equally funded by Advanced Bionics AG, Cochlear France, Vibrant
Medel Hearing Technology and Oticon Medical/Neurelec. Please see
article for additional information, including other authors, author
contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and
support, etc.