Cochlear implantation for paediatric and adult cases of unilateral and asymmetric hearing loss

Abstract

Purpose of reviewChildren and adults with unilateral or asymmetric hearing loss (UHL/AHL) have poorer spatial hearing (e.g. speech understanding in complex maskers and localization) and quality of life compared with peers with normal hearing bilaterally. Patients with UHL/AHL experience limited benefits with contralateral-routing technologies (e.g. bone conduction, CROS hearing aid systems). Cochlear implantation allows for stimulation of the auditory pathway for the poorer hearing ear. The present study reviews the recent literature on outcomes of cochlear implant use for recipients with UHL/AHL. Recent findingsRecent research corroborates previous investigations of the significant benefits on measures of spatial hearing, tinnitus severity and quality of life for adult cochlear implant recipients. These benefits are also observed in pediatric cochlear implant recipients, with an association of better outcomes with younger ages at implantation for congenital cases and shorter durations of UHL/AHL for acquired cases. In addition, randomized trials demonstrate better outcomes with cochlear implant use versus contralateralrouting technologies.

QoL, CIs, QALYs, and Individualized Rehabilitation: The Clinical and Practical Benefits of Regularly Assessing the Quality of Life of Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

“…Cochlear implant (CI) use can provide a host of benefits, including a significantly improved health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [1][2][3][4]. As part of a trend towards viewing the effects of CI use holistically, participants' self-assessed HRQoL is now more frequently used as an assessment measure in studies.…”

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Spatial Hearing Questionnaire in Cochlear Implant Users

“…양측 혹은 편측 귀에 청각장애가 있는 경우 난청의 정도와 형 태 등이 위치변별능력에 영향을 줄 수 있으며 (Häusler et al, 1983;Noble et al, 1994), 양이 간 청력의 비대칭 정도가 심할 수록 양이공간단서(binaural spatial cues)를 적절히 활용할 수 없어 저하된 공간청취능력을 보이게 된다 (Kumpik & King, 2019;Noble & Gatehouse, 2006). 다수의 선행 연구에서 보 청기 혹은 인공와우 등의 청각기기(hearing device) 착용을 통 해 난청인의 공간청취능력이 개선되었음을 확인하였으나 (Buss et al, 2018;Noble & Gatehouse, 2006;Thompson et al, 2022), 청각기기의 기능 설정에 따라 기기 착용 후 공간청취능력 이 오히려 저하될 수 있다 (Ausili & Snapp, 2023;Carette et al, 2014;Denk et al, 2019;van den Bogaert et al, 2006, van den Bogaert et al, 2011. Köbler et al(2010) (Çildir et al, 2021;Delphi et al, 2015;Kong et al, 2017;Moulin & Richard, 2016;Ou et al, 2016;Potvin et al, 2011;Tyler et al, 2009;Vladimirova et al, 2023) (Gatehouse & Noble, 2004;Gonsalez & Almeida, 2015;Kim et al, 2017;Lotfi et al, 2016;Moulin et al, 2015;Quar et al, 2019).…”