Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale and Tinnitus Functional Index Improvements After Cochlear Implant Surgery for Single-Sided Deafness

Abstract

Objective

Examine improvements in hearing and tinnitus-related quality-of-life metrics that occur after cochlear implant surgery in patients with single-sided deafness (SSD) and asymmetric hearing loss (AHL).

Methods

Adult patients undergoing cochlear implant surgery for SSD or AHL during a 2-year period at a quaternary academic medical center completed the validated survey instruments tinnitus functional index (TFI) and Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ) before surgery, and at least 3 months after cochlear implant activation. Standardized protocols for audiometric assessment were completed pre- and postoperatively.

Results

Twenty-four patients met inclusion criteria and had complete audiometric and survey data. Overall, composite TFI score improved significantly from a mean severity of 48.2 ± 9.2–18.6 ± 6.53; after cochlear implantation (q = 2.01, p < 0.001) and there was statistically significant improvement in all eight subdomains of the TFI after surgery. The SSQ composite scores significantly improved from a mean of 2.5 ± 0.30–5.07 ± 0.44 after CI (q = 2.01, p < 0.001). All three subdomains of the SSQ improved significantly after cochlear implantation though the magnitude of the changes were higher for Speech Hearing and Spatial Hearing compared with the Qualities of Hearing domain.

Conclusions

Cochlear implantation surgery in patients with SSD or AHL leads to significant overall improvements in hearing related quality of life, but particularly in the areas of speech understanding, spatial aspects of hearing, and tinnitus severity.

Level of Evidence

3