Self-Assessment of Sound Quality and Hearing Device Satisfaction in Older Adult Cochlear Implant Listeners Jennifer Torres M.A., Christina Runge PhD, Meredith Anderson AuD, Elizabeth Camposeo AuD, Margaret Dillon AuD, Meredith Holcomb AuD, Michelle Montes AuD, Elizabeth Coughlan M.A., Michelle Blanchard AuD, Jennifer Mansanares M.S., Stacey Cohen AuD,
Disclosures Audiology Advisory Board, MedEl Corp. Consulting, MedEl Corp.
Study/Subjects Adults, age 60+, participated in a multi-center study Denver Ear Associates, Englewood, CO, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, Tampa Bay Hearing and Balance, Tampa, FL, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, University of Pennsylvania, PA All participants were implanted with a MED-EL SYNCHRONY or CONCERT device HISQUI and HDSS questionnaires were completed at 6 and 12 months post initial activation
Introduction: Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI29) 29 item questionnaire Self-assessment of performance in everyday listening situations such as: Distinguishing between different speakers Listening to music Talking on the phone Watching TV Group conversations Responses rated on a 7 point Likert scale Total score calculated based on sum of all responses and classified into an overall performance category.
Introduction: Hearing Device Satisfaction Scale 21 item questionnaire (HDSS) Assessment of satisfaction with different features of the device Sound quality Effectiveness in noise Cosmetics Manipulation Responses rated on a 5 point Likert scale
Methods Subjects were divided into two groups based on their speech performance at 6 months post initial activation Poorer performers- <50% on CNCs Better performers- 50% on CNCs To date 29 participants have completed the 6 month interval 14 have been classified as poorer performers 15 have been classified as better performers 22 participants have completed the 12 month interval 12 have been classified as poorer performers 10 have been classified as better performers
HISQUI-self-rating of performance Identifying Environmental Sounds Talking on the Phone
HISQUI-self-rating of performance Listening to TV and Radio Understanding Speech in Public Places (Reverberation)
Total HISQUI Score Poorer Performers Moderate 27% Pre-op Poor 46% Very Poor 27% Very 14% 29% 6 Months Poor 28% Moderate 29% Very 8% 42% 12 Months Moderate 50% Be@er Performers Pre-op Moderate 20% 7% Poor 46% Very Poor 27% 6 Months Very 7% 40% Poor 20% Moderate 33% 12 Months Very 10% 30% Poor 20% Moderate 40%
HISQUI- Summary From pre-op to 6 months post-op, older adult patients report large improvements (>30%) in their ability to: Distinguish between different speakers Talk on the phone Identify environmental sounds Moderate gains (>15%) were seen from pre-op to 6 months post-op in the ability to: Identify music sounds Participate in group conversations Similar levels of difficulty when were seen from pre-op to 6 months post-op in the ability to: listening to the TV or radio understanding speech in public, reverberant spaces (such as in church or in restaurants) Self-assessment ratings across all categories appeared to be consistent from 6 months to 12 months post-op
HDSS-self-rating of satisfaction
HDSS-self-rating of satisfaction
HDSS-self-rating of satisfaction
HDSS Summary Poorer performers reported: increased satisfaction for telephone usage, radio, television, theatre, and movies reported a 36% increased in satisfaction for music quality and enjoyment at 6 months post device use All participants reported over a 30% improvement in satisfaction of quality of life after 6 months of cochlear implant use Overall, satisfaction levels of better performers tended to be lower than poorer performers at 6 and 12 months post CI.
Clinical Insights Subjective benefits of cochlear implants may not always be reflective of speech perception measures. Patient questionnaires like the HISQUI may help to identify the specific areas where a patient is continuing to have difficulty performing with their CI. Patient satisfaction questionnaires like the HDSS may allow clinicians to capture information beyond performance measures such as changes in patient expectations over time. Rehabilitation and Counseling Implications