Cognitive abilities and depressive status in SSD patients with CI

 

Introduction As part of a DFG-funded prospective cohort study, the cognitive abilities and depressive status of younger and older adults with single-sided deafness (SSD) before and one year after a cochlear implant (CI) were examined for the first time.

Method The cognitive data and the depressive status were collected preoperatively (05/2020-09/2022) as the 1st measurement time point (MS1) and one year postoperatively (07/2021-01/2023) as the 2nd measurement time point (MS2). Data from the neurocognitive test battery (VLMT, WMT, TMT-B, GoNoGoTAP, N-backTAP, RWT, NVLT) and the BDI II (Beck Depression Inventory) were compared in a young group (JG) (MS1: N=10; MS2: N=7; 25-55 years) and an older group (ÄG) (MS1: N=10; MS2: N=6; 56-75 years) with SSD and CI indication.

Results In the episodic memory of the NVLT, the JG (57.6/62.1) and the ÄG (45.2/48.0) improved by a few percentile ranks (PR) from MS1 to MS2. This trend is also evident in the VLMT. In the executive functions, both groups have constant or slightly improved test results from MS2, with the JG generally performing better. In the TMT-B, the JG improved slightly from the 1st to the 2nd MS in the PR (28.6/32.9), while the ÄG deteriorated (23.3/16.7). It is striking that the JG has a significantly higher depressive status (17) than the ÄG (9) at the 1st MS, which decreases positively at the 2nd MS (JG: 6.1; ÄG: 8.2).

Conclusion Deviations from the norm in cognitive abilities can be observed in both AGs. The AG shows the higher cognitive deficits. The JG indicates higher depressive symptoms in MS1. Presumably, SSD also leads to cognitive decline, which could be coherent with the depressive status. A CI shows a positive effect on depressive symptoms and a slight improvement in cognitive ability.

Publication History

Article published online:
19 April 2024

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