engleski

COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION IN ELDERLY PATIENTS

BACKGROUND Cochlear implantation in elderly patients seems to be not cost effective, due to belief that elderly patients perform poorly in the postoperative audiological rehabilitation procedure due to degenerative processes in the auditory system. METHODS Our retrospective study entails the analysis of 8 postlingually deaf patients over 60 years of age, who underwent cochlear implantation in our ENT department between 1996. and 2010. The average age of the 6 female and 2 male patients was 65 years at the time of implantation (range 60 to 76 years) with an average duration of deafness of 11 years (range 2 to 36 years). The hearing loss was caused by a sudden or progressive sensorineural hearing loss, meningitis and/or trauma. Prior to cochlear implantation all patients received a conventional hearing aid on both ears, in use for at least three months. Patients were analyzed with an open-set speech perception test using multi- and monosyllabic word recognition (75 dB in quiet). The data of the elderly patients was compared to a control group of postlingually younger adults recipients. RESULTS The surgical procedure was well tolerated by all patients. The speech perception was recorded 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after implantation. There was a significant improvement of the disyllabic words and sentences scores. We found no significant differences in the results of the multi- and monosyllabic word test (open-set) in the study group of elderly patients and the control group of younger patients. CONCLUSION Cochlear implantation is feasible in elderly patients without higher risks or costs in comparison to younger patients. No significant differences in speech perception between senior and younger recipients could be recorded in our study. Cochlear implantation leads to a higher quality of life in elderly patients. LEARNING OUTCOME Cochlear implants have a positive impact on quality of life in elderly patients.

cochlear implantation; elderly patients

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