Cochlear Implant Results in Older Adults with Post-Lingual Deafness: The Role of “Top-Down” Neurocognitive Mechanisms

Milena Zucca, Andrea Albera, Roberto Albera, Carla Montuschi, Beatrice Della Gatta, Andrea Canale and Innocenzo Rainero
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Milena Zucca: Department of Neuroscience, Aging Brain and Memory Clinic, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Andrea Albera: Department of Surgical Sciences, ENT Division, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Roberto Albera: Department of Surgical Sciences, ENT Division, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Carla Montuschi: Section of Otorhinolaryngology, Department of Surgery, Ospedale degli Infermi, 13875 Biella, Italy
Beatrice Della Gatta: Department of Surgical Sciences, ENT Division, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Andrea Canale: Department of Surgical Sciences, ENT Division, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy
Innocenzo Rainero: Department of Neuroscience, Aging Brain and Memory Clinic, University of Torino, 10126 Turin, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 3, 1-13

Abstract: To date, no clear specific cognitive predictors of speech perception outcome in older adult cochlear implant (CI) users have yet emerged. The aim of this prospective study was to increase knowledge on cognitive and clinical predictors of the audiological outcome in adult cochlear implant users. A total of 21 patients with post-lingual deafness, who were candidates for cochlear implantation, were recruited at the Department of Ear, Nose and Throat, University of Torino (Italy) and subjected to a pre-operatory neuropsychological assessment (T0) and an audiological examination after 12 months of implantation (T12). Patients who, at T12, had a 60 dB verbal recognition above 80%, were younger (z = −2.131, p = 0.033) and performed better in the Verbal Semantic Fluency Test at T0 (z = −1.941, p = 0.052) than subjects who had a 60 dB verbal recognition at T12 below 80%. The most significant predictors of the CI audiological outcome at T12 were age (β = −0.492, p = 0.024) and patients’ TMT-A performance at baseline (β = −0.486, p = 0.035). We conclude that cognitive processing speed might be a good predictor of the level of speech understanding in older adult patients with CI after one year of implantation.

Keywords: cochlear implant; hearing impairment; older adults; neurocognition; processing speed; speech recognition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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