Cognitive abilities and depressive symptoms in SSD patients

Introduction In a DFG-funded prospective cohort study, cognitive abilities and depressive status were investigated for the first time in 2 groups of younger and older adults with single side deafness (SSD) before and 1 year after a Cochlea-Implant (CI).

Method Based on a multicenter cohort study with Salzburg, the following study data show results on preoperatively collected data (05/2020 -10/2022) of patients recruited in Hannover (MHH). On a young (JG) (N=10; 25-55 years) and an older group (äG) (N=10; 56-75 years) with SSD and CI indication, data of the neurocognitive test battery (VLMT, WMT, TMT-B, GoNoGoTAP, N-backTAP, RWT, NVLT), the BDI II (Beck Depression Inventory) and the social status are compared. Results The JG show a more frequent and higher mental stress than the äG. In executive functions, 70% of the JG (äG 50%) have a slightly abnormal percentile rank. But in cognitive flexibility, äG shows twice as many abnormalities (60%) compared to JG (30%). In episodic memory, 3-4 patients in the äG showed mild to severe and only 1 patient from the JG mildly abnormal z-scores.

Conclusion  Except for the depressive status, the JG is superior to the äG in the cognitive tests. However, there is also clearly norm deviation in the JG. It can be assumed that cognitive decline also occurred due to SSD, which could be related to the depressive status. Thus, it is even more important to provide hearing impairment with a CI at an early stage to reduce possible depressive symptomatology and cognitive decline.

Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)

Publikationsverlauf

Artikel online veröffentlicht:
12. Mai 2023