Multifactorial positive influence of cochlear implantation on patients with single‐sided deafness

Abstract

Objectives Single‐sided deafness (SSD) is an extreme case with profound unilateral hearing loss in the poorer ear and regular hearing in the other ear. The aim of this study is to investigate the impairment in the daily life of SSD patients and the influence of cochlear implants (CI) on their health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), the impact on existing tinnitus distress and psychological comorbidities, and audiometric parameters. Methods In total, 21 patients (8 male and 13 female) were included, and the Charité Test Battery was applied for all patients. Data on HRQoL were collected with the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire and the Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF‐36) Survey. Tinnitus distress was assessed with the Tinnitus Questionnaire (TQ). Data with regard to psychological comorbidities were collected using four validated questionnaires. Speech perception was assessed with the Freiburg Monosyllable Test (FMS), the Oldenburg Sentence Test (OLSA), and the Oldenburg Inventory (OI). Results HRQoL improved in the subdomain social interactions. Tinnitus distress dropped significantly 6 months postoperatively. SSD patients preoperatively showed elevated levels of stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Postoperatively, these psychological symptoms improved with regard to stress, tension, and demands. The audiometry tools revealed a significant improvement in directional hearing (OI), speech perception in silence, and in the speech intelligibility threshold (OLSA). Conclusion There was an improvement in HRQoL and a reduction of tinnitus and cognitive distress. The preoperatively elevated stress level decreased significantly, and psychological comorbidities such as depressive symptoms and anxiety all improved postimplantation. Level of Evidence II‐2 Laryngoscope, 130:500–506, 2020

Is the cochlear implant a successful long-term solution for single-sided deaf and asymmetric hearing-impaired patients?

“…Cochlear implants (CIs) improve speech recognition in noise and the localization of sound sources in patients with SSD [12][13][14][15]. CIs also reduce the cognitive load and improves the anxiety states and hearing-related quality of life of such patients [1,2,10,11,16].…”

Hearing loss treatment with cochlear or brainstem implants in 2014 – diagnostic, needs, availability in various regions of Poland

“…single sided deafness) lub asymetrycznym niedosłuchem (ang. asymetric hearing loss) [17][18][19]. Dodatkową motywacją do podjęcia decyzji o poddaniu się operacji wszczepienia implantu ślimakowego są towarzyszące zaburzeniom słuchu uporczywe szumy uszne.…”

“…Dodatkową motywacją do podjęcia decyzji o poddaniu się operacji wszczepienia implantu ślimakowego są towarzyszące zaburzeniom słuchu uporczywe szumy uszne. Według doniesień literaturowych zastosowanie systemu implantu ślimakowego może przyczynić się do zmniejszenia intensywności szumów usznych, a niekiedy doprowadzić nawet do ich zaniku [18].…”

The Quality of Life in the Elderly with Acquired Single-Sided Deafness

“…Unilateral deafness is characterized by profound hearing loss of 90 dB or more in the affected ear with age norm hearing thresholds (≤25 dB) on the opposite ear [ 8 , 11 ].…”