2023/06/26 by Pützer, Elena, Streicher, Barbara, Lang-Roth, Ruth +1
#Altersschwerhörigkeit #Cochlea-Implantat #Ertaubung #Medicine and health #acquired hearing loss #age-related hearing loss #cochlear implant
paper · doi:10.3205/zaud000032
Background: The recent increase in the number of cochlear implantations in older people has sparked new interest in researching this target population. Findings in previous studies suggest that a cochlear implant (CI) brings considerable benefits for older people. However, limited attention has been given to the views of CI recipients themselves, and how they perceive success and challenges in the time following implantation. Method: Records of n=22 former patients at Cologne University Hospital were examined using qualitative content analysis. All patients were fitted with a CI in one ear between 2017 and 2019 when they were 69 years or older. They all used a hearing aid for auditive support on the other ear. Audiometric data from pure tone audiometry and speech audiometry was collected and analyzed along with personal comments on how individuals perceived the success and how they were able to handle the hearing technology. Results: Findings suggest that individuals’ speech comprehension in the OLSA in quiet improved considerably after implantation and therapy. This was observed both in the collective group and in intraindividual comparison. Half of the group stated that they were partly satisfied or completely satisfied with their CI. Most of the patients reported that they kept the sound processor on throughout the entire day. However, according to their self-reports, most participants felt challenged in their understanding of speech in groups, with background noise, when talking on the phone, watching TV, and/or when listening to music. Some of the participants reported that they required support with handling the technical equipment. It was not possible to depict a comprehensive picture of the participants’ social contacts based on the collected data. However, our findings suggest that developing an understanding of speech after cochlear implantation seems to be perceived as more difficult for persons living on their own. Conclusion: CI patients over 69 years reported difficulties in everyday life, particularly in challenging communicative situations, in media use and in using technical accessories. These difficulties should be taken into consideration during preoperative counselling regarding cochlear implantation and also during the rehabilitation process that follows implantation. More importantly, these difficulties should be directly addressed with patients to optimize the pre- and postoperative processes involved.