Improvements in Perceived Abilities and Speech Recognition in Quiet and Noise for Older Adults With Single-sided Deafness or Asymmetric Hearing Loss: A Multi-center Investigation.

OBJECTIVE: Cochlear implantation is an effective treatment option for individuals with single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL). Most data are from young and middle-aged adults. This study assessed the outcomes of cochlear implant (CI) use for older adults. STUDY DESIGN: Multi-center, prospective, repeated-measures. SETTING: Five academic centers. PATIENTS: A total of 39 older adult (60 yr or older) CI users with SSD or AHL. INTERVENTION: Cochlear implantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Procedures were completed preoperatively with a rerouting device and 3, 6, and 12 months postactivation with the CI. Speech recognition for the affected ear was assessed with CNC words. Speech recognition in noise was assessed with the AzBio sentences. The target was presented from the front loudspeaker and the masker was co-located with the target, 90 degrees toward the better hearing ear, or 90 degrees toward the affected ear. Perceived abilities were assessed with the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of hearing scale. RESULTS: Participants demonstrated significant improvements over time on all measures (p