Cognitive Performance of Severely Hearing-impaired Older Adults Before and After Cochlear Implantation: Preliminary Results of a Prospective, Longitudinal Cohort Study Using the RBANS-H

Objective: To evaluate cognitive change in severely hearing-impaired older adults after cochlear implantation. Study Design: Prospective, longitudinal cohort study with assessments before, and at 6 and 12 months after implantation. Patients: Twenty older adults (median age: 71.5 yr). Main Outcome Measures: Change in the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status for Hearing-impaired individuals (RBANS-H) total score and subdomain scores were used to assess cognitive evolution. In addition, change in best-aided speech audiometry in quiet (monosyllabic words) and in noise (Leuven Intelligibility Sentences Test [LIST]) was examined, as well as patient-reported measures of health-related quality of life (Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire [NCIQ]), self-perceived hearing disability (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of hearing Scale—12 [SSQ12]), sound quality (Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index—19 [HISQUI19]), and states of anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]). Results: The RBANS-H total scores improved significantly after 12 months cochlear implant (CI) usage (p 
Source: Otology and Neurotology - Category: ENT & OMF Tags: Cochlear Implants Source Type: research