A Pilot Study on Balance and Cognitive Functions of Cochlear Implant Recipients in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
Balance and Cognitive Functions in CI Patients
Abstract
Cochlear implantation (CI) has proven to be effective in treating severe-profound sensorineural hearing loss in paediatric and adult patients. Besides hearing restoration in the deaf, there has been growing evidence suggesting that CI may be associated with improvement in cognitive and balance functions. This study investigated the balance and cognitive functions among Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) CI recipients. It was a pilot, cross-sectional study. A total of 13 patients were recruited via the UKM cochlear implant program. Suitable patients underwent pre-operative testing as a baseline followed by a repeat of balance and cognitive assessments after at least 3 months post-cochlear implantation. Balance tests used were Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance or Paediatric Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance). Age-appropriate cognitive tests used were Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - 4th Edition, Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 4th Edition. The statistical analysis showed an increase in cognitive subtest scores post-CI: Similarities and Digit Span. No significant changes were seen in balance function. There was a negative correlation seen between cognitive function subtest Picture Span and balance function (eyes closed, foam surface condition). This study suggests that cochlear implantation may enhance certain domains of cognitive function. There also appears to be a correlation between cochlear implantation, balance and cognitive performance.
Keywords :
Cochlear implants; cognition; hearing loss; postural balance; sensorineural,
Abstrak
Implantasi koklea (CI) telah terbukti berkesan dalam merawat kehilangan pendengaran sensorineural yang teruk pada pesakit kanak-kanak dan dewasa. Selain memulihkan pendengaran pada individu pekak, semakin banyak bukti terbaru yang menunjukkan bahawa CI mungkin dikaitkan dengan peningkatan dalam fungsi kognitif dan keseimbangan. Kajian ini menyiasat keseimbangan dan fungsi kognitif dalam kalangan penerima CI di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM). Kajian ini merupakan kajian rintis berbentuk keratan rentas. Seramai 13 pesakit telah direkrut melalui program implan koklea UKM. Pesakit yang sesuai menjalani ujian pra-operasi sebagai garis dasar, diikuti dengan pengulangan keseimbangan dan penilaian kognitif selepas sekurang-kurangnya 3 bulan selepas implantasi koklea. Ujian keseimbangan yang digunakan ialah "Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance" atau "Paediatric Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction and Balance". Ujian kognitif yang bersesuaian dengan umur yang digunakan ialah "Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence - 4th Edition (WIPPSI-IV), Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children – 5th Edition (WISC-V) dan Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale - 4th Edition". Analisis statistik menunjukkan peningkatan dalam skor subujian kognitif selepas CI, iaitu "Similarities" dan "Digit Span". Tiada perubahan ketara dilihat dalam fungsi imbangan. Terdapat korelasi negatif yang dilihat antara subujian fungsi kognitif "Picture Span" dan fungsi imbangan (mata tertutup, keadaan permukaan buih). Kajian ini mencadangkan bahawa CI boleh meningkatkan domain tertentu fungsi kognitif. Selain itu, terdapat korelasi antara implantasi koklea dengan keseimbangan dan prestasi kognitif.
Kata Kunci :
Implan koklea; keseimbangan postur; kognitif; kehilangan pendengaran; sensorineural,
Correspondance Address
*Correspondence: asmappukm@gmail.com, drasma@ukm.edu.my
