Artikel
Hearing Results and Cognitive Skills in Correlation to Preoperative MRI Results in Elderly Cochlear Implant Patients
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Autoren
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Angelika Illg
- Medical University of Hannover, ENT Clinic, Hannover, Germany
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Tabea Otte
- Medical University of Hannover, ENT Clinic, Hannover, Germany
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Anke Lesinski-Schiedat
- Medical University of Hannover, ENT Clinic, Hannover, Germany
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Thomas Lenarz
- Medical University of Hannover, ENT Clinic, Hannover, Germany
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Eva Bültmann
- Medical University of Hannover, Institute for Neuroradiology, Hannover, Germany
| Veröffentlicht: | 7. September 2016 |
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Gliederung
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At present 26% of the cochlear implant (CI) patients are older than 65 years at the Medical University of Hannover. In this advanced age it could be possible that cognitive changes, such as dementia, begin to take shape. Therefore we assume that the success of the implantation could be affected.
Data from 31 patients older than 65 years of age (mean: 75.7 years; min: 87.42 years – max: 65.28 years) with unilateral CI were evaluated. Their mother tongue was German and they stated that they did not have any additional illnesses. All patients were tested with audiological tests (Freiburger monosyllables, HSM-sentence test in quiet and noise) and with cognitive screens (MMST and Uhrentest).
All data were retrospective compared to the preoperative MRI-scan. A subjective assessment of the Microangiopathy and reduced volume were rated by a Neuroradiological physican.
All data were statistically evaluated with Wilcoxon- and Mann-Whitney-U-Test.
Three month after first activation of the speech processor, speech comprehension results in quiet and noise were significantly better than preoperatively. Also the outcomes of the cognitive screens were significantly better than preoperatively.
One year after first activation the results could be confirmed, same significant differences were found.
Nevertheless no statistical correlation were found between audiological, cognitive and MRI results. The preoperative degree of the Microangiopathy could not show a hint of the postoperative audiological or cognitive results. Also the preoperative degree of the reduced volume could not show any trace of the postoperative audiological or cognitive results.
Elderly hearing impaired patients show good speech comprehension results with cochlear implant. Their cognitive abilities increase simultaneously. The relationship between hearing and cognitive abilities has to be discussed. The results of this small group of patients confirm that cognitive abilities also depend on hearing. Therefore an early treatment with hearing aids or cochlear implants should be necessary when patients become hearing impaired.
The usual MRI method is not able to differentiate morphological functional deficits. More complex MRI treatments on a larger population are necessary to evaluate imaging processes in correlation with results after implantation.
