Psychological Change following 18 Months of Cochlear Implant Use

Consecutive recipients of multichannel cochlear implants participated in preimplant as well as 9-month and 18-month psychological evaluations. Before receiving a cochlear implant, psychological tests indicated that the implant recipients were more depressed, suspicious, socially isolated, lonely, and socially anxious than was the general population. After 18 months of implant use, there was a significant reduction in depression, loneliness, social anxiety, social isolation, and suspiciousness. These changes in psychological state did not correlate with improved performance on audiological measures. The data suggest that although cochlear implants can have a positive effect on the emotional and behavioral status of persons with acquired postlingual profound deafness, the psychological outcome of implants is not simply a function of the audiological benefit assessed with standardized speech-based audiological tests.