Publications

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

To investigate the impact of hearing aid and cochlear implant use on quality of life in adults.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective observational cohort study.

METHODS

One hundred thirteen adults aged ≥50 years with postlingual hearing loss receiving routine clinical care at a tertiary academic medical center were evaluated with the Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 before and 6 and 12 months after intervention with hearing aids or cochlear implants. Change in score was assessed using linear mixed effect models adjusted for age, gender, education, and history of hypertension, diabetes, and smoking.

RESULTS

A significant increase in Mental Component Summary score was observed in both hearing aid and cochlear implant users from baseline to 12 months, with cochlear implant users increasing nearly twice that of hearing aid users (hearing aid: 2.49 [95% confidence interval: 0.11, 4.88], P = .041; cochlear implant: 4.20 [95% confidence interval: 1.85, 6.55], P < .001). The most substantial increases were observed in individuals with the lowest baseline scores. There was no significant difference in physical component summary score from baseline to 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of hearing loss with hearing aids and cochlear implants results in significant increases in mental health quality of life. The majority of the increase is observed by 6 months post-treatment, and we observed differential effects of treatment depending on the level of baseline quality of life score with the greatest gains observed in those with the lowest scores.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2b. Laryngoscope, 126:2110-2115, 2016.

Recent evidence suggests that music-based interventions can be beneficial in maintaining cognitive, emotional, and social functioning in persons with dementia (PWDs). Our aim was to determine how clinical, demographic, and musical background factors influence the cognitive and emotional efficacy of caregiver-implemented musical activities in PWDs. In a randomized controlled trial, 89 PWD-caregiver dyads received a 10-week music coaching intervention involving either singing or music listening or standard care. Extensive neuropsychological testing and mood and quality of life (QoL) measures were performed before and after the intervention (n = 84) and six months later (n = 74). The potential effects of six key background variables (dementia etiology and severity, age, care situation, singing/instrument playing background) on the outcome of the intervention were assessed. Singing was beneficial especially in improving working memory in PWDs with mild dementia and in maintaining executive function and orientation in younger PWDs. Music listening was beneficial in supporting general cognition, working memory, and QoL especially in PWDs with moderate dementia not caused by Alzheimer's disease (AD) who were in institutional care. Both music interventions alleviated depression especially in PWDs with mild dementia and AD. The musical background of the PWD did not influence the efficacy of the music interventions. Our findings suggest that clinical and demographic factors can influence the cognitive and emotional efficacy of caregiver-implemented musical activities and are, therefore, recommended to take into account when applying and developing the intervention to achieve the greatest benefit.