Speech recognition and quality of life outcomes of adults with cochlear implants following a quarter-century of deafness: what should be the maximum duration?

PURPOSE: This study was aimed at examining the pre- and post-cochlear implant (CI) speech recognition and quality of life results of postlingually deaf adult CI users with a duration of deafness (DoD) > 25 years and determining the maximum DoD limit.

METHODS

We enrolled 54 postlingually deaf CI users and divided them into ages ≤ 60 and > 60 years and DoDs ≤ 25 and > 25 years. All participants were evaluated using multisensory measures (auditory and auditory + visual) and open-set Speech Recognition Test (SRT) before CI and 3 years postoperatively. They were administered with The Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) to determine the effects of hearing impairment on daily life.

RESULTS

DoD and open-set SRT for auditory and auditory + visual stimuli showed a strong negative linear relationship (r =  - 0.506, p < 0.01). Open-set SRT scores of patients with DoD aged ≤ 25 and > 25 years (p < 0.01) differed significantly. The chronological age and HHIE scores in social and emotional subfactors showed a strong negative linear relationship (r =  - 0.519, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study showed that the number of years was a major factor determining that postlingual adults with profound hearing loss had hearing loss. The results support CI use as soon as possible in adults to prevent degeneration of the auditory pathways and possible central remodeling. However, auditory rehabilitation outcomes in adults using CI vary widely. Investigating the causes of this variability contributes to audiology.