The Cochlear Implant Improves Cognition and Reduces Depression in the Elderly

Introduction:

The cochlear implant (CI) has also become a treatment of choice for older patients with severe hearing loss or deafness. The impact of the treatment with the CI on cognition and dementia has not been sufficiently investigated yet. This was the target of the following study.

Methods:

We have conducted a prospective study on a group of 33 patients between the age of 65 and 86 years who have been provided with a CI for the first time. The patients were tested on three defined dates: prior surgery (T1), one month after surgery (T2) and six months after surgery (T3). On each occasion we tested the Dementia-Detection (DemTect), the Trail Making Tests (TMT) and the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS).

Results:

The score of the DemTect had a contineous improvement. Starting with 15,70 ± 3,94 at T1 it increased to T3 with 16,91 ± 2,07 showing a statistically siginificant improvement (p = 0,049). However, from T1 to T2 there was a non significant decrease with 16,73 ± 2,14 (p = 0,124).

The TMT A performed significantly from T1 52,3 ± 24,88 to T3 with 43,12 ± 19,58 (p = 0,003).

The B part developed from T1 with 116,58 ± 45,56 to 108,27 ± 41,73 (T3) (p = 0,001).

A siginifcant reduction of the score of the GDS from T1 with 2,5 ± 2,9 to T3 with 1,7 ± 2,2 could be noticed (p = 0,025), too.

Conclusion:

In conclusion our results confirm a significant positive influence of cochlear implant on both cognitive and dementia development in advanced age. As a result the treatment with CI improves not only the speech understanding but also the cognitive abilities.

Publication History

Publication Date:
23 April 2019 (online)