Dayse Távora-Vieira, Miryam Calvino, Christiane Völter, Javier Gavilán, David Strachan, Vedat Topsakal, Paul Van de Heyning, Sasidharan Pulibalathingal, Mohan Kameswaran, Domenico Cuda, Rudolf Hagen, Stefan Dazert, Timo Stöver, Christopher Raine, Kristen Rak, Mario Zernotti, Serafima Sugarova, Hinrich Staecker, Vincent Van Rompaey, Shin-Ichi Usami, Luis Lassaletta, Robert Mlynski, Uwe Baumann, Marco Caversaccio, Lorne S Parnes, Ranjith Rajeswaran, Tashneem Harris, Aanand Acharya, Griet Mertens
Most respondents referred to older adults in the context of cochlear implantation as adults aged 60 years or older with postlingual, mostly progressive hearing loss with different aetiologies. Preoperative assessment in older adults should go beyond standard audiometric tests, including cognitive screening and involving a multidisciplinary team. Significant others and social support play a key role in the rehabilitation process in older adult CI recipients and users.
BACKGROUND: Research on the hearing implant journey in older adults is scarce.
AIMS/OBJECTIVES: To conduct a multicenter scoping survey on the clinical routine in the treatment of hearing loss, specifically cochlear implantation, in older adults.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey comprising 39 questions on the treatment of hearing loss in older adults was sent to 20 cochlear implant clinics worldwide.
RESULTS: Most respondents referred to older adults in the context of cochlear implantation as adults aged 60 years or older with postlingual, mostly progressive hearing loss with different aetiologies. Preoperative assessment in older adults should go beyond standard audiometric tests, including cognitive screening and involving a multidisciplinary team. Significant others and social support play a key role in the rehabilitation process in older adult CI recipients and users.
CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: A guideline for the management of cochlear implantation in older adults is needed.