Speech Perception and Quality-of-Life Outcomes in Mandarin-Speaking Postlingual Deaf Adults With Cochlear Implant: Any Difference With the Intonation Language Users?

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effects of related factors on long-term speech perception and quality-of-life (QoL) outcomes in postlingual deaf Mandarin-speaking adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients and to assess any differences between tone language and other intonation language CI adult users. Study Design Retrospective cases review Setting Tertiary referral center Patients Forty-five adult CI recipients (48 implanted ears). Main Outcome Measures Post-CI outcomes were evaluated after follow-ups of more than 24 months using speech perception tests and QoL questionnaires. We analyzed the related factors affecting CI outcomes. Results A shorter duration of profound deafness was predictive factors for better post-CI speech perception. Earlier implantation and better performance of vowel scores were predictive of better subjective improvements in social and emotional life. Post-CI vowel scores of over 56% indicated promising improvements in QoL. Conclusion Shorter duration of deafness could have better post-CI speech perception. Post-CI vowel scores instead of monosyllable words have the more potential to predict the QoL in Mandarin-speaking adult CI recipients.