Binaural Hearing Rehabilitation Improves Speech Perception, Quality of Life, Tinnitus Distress, and Psychological Comorbidities

Abstract

This study demonstrates the long-term benefit of binaural hearing rehabilitation in AHL and bilaterally-deaf patients not only regarding speech perception but also HRQoL, tinnitus distress and subjective hearing quality. Bilaterally-deafened patients present lower scores preoperatively, but they did not differ from AHL patients 2 years after CI. Up to now, this is the first study evaluating the outcome of CI in AHL patients compared to bilaterally-implanted patients and demonstrating the benefit of binaural hearing rehabilitation in these specific groups.