Effectiveness of Cochlear Implants in Adults With Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Raman, G., Lee, J., et al. (2011).
Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, (Technology Assessment Report No: AUDT0510 [Prepared by the Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center under Contract No. 290 2007 10055 1]).
This technology assessment report includes a systematic review that investigates the effects of unilateral and bilateral cochlear implantation on speech perception outcomes and health-related quality of life in adults, 18 years and older, with sensorineural hearing loss.
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality; Tufts Evidence-based Practice Center
January 2004 to February 2011
Any study design
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Six studies demonstrated significant benefit post-unilateral implantation in hearing-specific quality-of-life assessments, including improvement in the areas of communication, social skills, academic and work performance, and general satisfaction with the unilateral cochlear implant (Moderate Evidence).<div><br /></div><div>Two studies of moderate to low evidence indicated overall improvement in scores for the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit (APHAB), Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly (HHIE) and the Hearing Handicap Questionnaire (HHQ) for subjects with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants when compared to those with unilateral cochlear implants. </div>
"There were significant effects from the use of unilateral cochlear implants on overall health-related quality-of-life and social domains in quality-B studies" (p. 16, Moderate Evidence).
Moderate evidence from 22 quality-B studies indicated significant benefit with unilateral cochlear implants in speech perception using open-set sentences when compared to pre-implant scores or hearing aid-only users.<div><br /></div><div>Moderate to low evidence indicated significantly better scores with simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants than unilateral cochlear implants for speech perception using open-set sentences, multi-syllable tests, head-shadow effect, and sound localization. </div>
Results where mixed regarding the benefit of speech perception, binaural processing, sound localization, and health-related quality-of-life for a sequential, bilateral implant when compared to a unilateral implant (Low Evidence).
