Long-term auditory performance and psychosocial benefits of cochlear implantation in Mandarin-speaking older adults

Speech Perception and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Mandarin-Speaking Postlingual Deaf Adults With Cochlear Implant: Any Difference With the Intonation Language Users?

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of related factors on long-term speech perception and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in postlingual deaf Mandarin-speaking adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients and to assess any differences between tone language and other intonation language CI adult users.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cases review.

SETTING

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS

Forty-five adult CI recipients (48 implanted ears).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Post-CI outcomes were evaluated after follow-ups of more than 24 months using speech perception tests and QoL questionnaires. We analyzed the related factors affecting CI outcomes.

RESULTS

A shorter duration of profound deafness was predictive factors for better post-CI speech perception. Earlier implantation and better performance of vowel scores were predictive of better subjective improvements in social and emotional life. Post-CI vowel scores of over 56% indicated promising improvements in QoL.

CONCLUSION

Shorter duration of deafness could have better post-CI speech perception. Post-CI vowel scores instead of monosyllable words have the more potential to predict the QoL in Mandarin-speaking adult CI recipients.

Bilateral cochlear implants in a MELAS patient

BACKGROUND

Mitochondrial encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a maternally inherited mitochondrial disease that affects various systems in the body, particularly the brain, nervous system, and muscles. Among these systems, sensorineural hearing loss is a common additional symptom.

METHODS

A 42-year-old female patient with MELAS who experienced bilateral profound deafness and underwent bilateral sequential cochlear implantation (CIs). Speech recognition and subjective outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

Following the first CI follow-up, the patient exhibited improved speech recognition ability and decided to undergo the implantation of the second ear just two months after the initial CI surgery. The second CI also demonstrated enhanced speech recognition ability. Subjective outcomes were satisfactory for bilateral CIs.

CONCLUSIONS

MELAS patients receiving bilateral CIs can attain satisfactory post-CI speech recognition, spatial hearing, and sound qualities.

Can Mandarin-speaking prelingual deaf adults benefit from cochlear implant?

BACKGROUND

With advances in cochlear implant (CI) technology, prelingual deaf adults may experience improved speech perception and quality of life (QoL). It is still a challenge for Mandarin-speaking CI user with tone recognition due to CI technology focused on intonation language.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the long-term post-CI auditory performance and social-emotional benefits in prelingual deaf Mandarin-speaking adults and the difference between them and post-lingual deaf adults.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fifty-five adult implanted ears were included (forty-six postlingual deaf group; nine prelingual deaf group). Post-CI long-term outcomes were using vowels, consonants, disyllabic words, Mandarin monosyllable words, categories of audiology performance, speech intelligibility rating, subjective social-emotional questionnaires.

RESULTS

Post-CI auditory performance and speech intelligibility of prelingual deafness adults was significantly inferior to that of those with postlingual deafness. However, both groups presented improved social-emotional benefits, with no significant difference between both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Adult CI recipients who deaf before the age of 4 can experience benefits in social-emotional life functioning, regardless of their limited auditory performance and speech intelligibility. Therefore, prelingual Mandarin-speaking deaf adults, especially those using oral communication, can be considered as relative indications for cochlear implantation.

SIGNIFICANCE

To clarify and validate the benefits among Mandarin-speaking prelingual deaf adult recipients.