Cochlear implant benefits over time in adult patients with Single Sided Deafness.

PURPOSE: Recently, the indications for Cochlear Implant (CI) have also been extended to subjects with Single Sided Deafness (SSD) in order to restore binaural hearing. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the advantages of CI following one year of usage in SSD subjects. Secondarily we want to assess the long-term stability of the CI.

METHODS

57 participants performed speech audiometry in noise and localization test. For each was also evaluated subjective hearing profile (with Speech Spatial and Qualities_SSQ questionnaire) and the impact of tinnitus (with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory_THI questionnaire).

RESULTS

After one year of CI usage, we observed a significant improvement in speech in noise, in sound localization abilities, in the Speech (p-value 0.001) and Spatial (p-value 0.001) subscales of the SSQ questionnaire and in THI questionnaire (p-value 0.001). The improvements in speech in noise and localization abilities and the reduction of the SSQ and THI questionnaires scores were maintained over time. Only eight participants did not fully utilize the CI.

CONCLUSION

CI in SSD represents an effective method for improving speech recognition in noisy environments, restoring sound localization abilities, reducing tinnitus and improve subjective listening skills.