The effect of cochlear implantation in older adults: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

Age-related hearing loss is increasingly prevalent and impacts psychosocial wellbeing, cognitive health, and quality of life in older adults. While cochlear implants (CIs) are effective for severe-to-profound loss, their use in the elderly was historically cautious. This umbrella review synthesizes evidence on CI effects on auditory, cognitive, postural, and quality-of-life outcomes in this population.

Continue reading at PubMed →

The umbrella review provides the highest-level evidence synthesis currently available on CI outcomes in older adults; audiologists and ENT teams should use these findings to strengthen evidence-based counseling on psychosocial and cognitive benefits for older CI candidates.

As the population ages and CI candidacy criteria expand, robust evidence on holistic outcomes beyond speech understanding — including cognition and well-being — is essential to support referral decisions and patient counseling.

1. 01Umbrella review synthesizes systematic reviews and meta-analyses — the highest level of evidence synthesis.
2. 02Covers psychosocial, cognitive, and quality-of-life outcomes of cochlear implantation in older adults.
3. 03Target population is older adults with age-related hearing loss (presbycusis).
4. 04Findings can directly inform counseling and referral pathways for older CI candidates.
5. 05Published in a peer-reviewed rehabilitation audiology journal.

PMID

42568320

DOI

10.1080/14670100.2026.2704308.

Journal

International Journal of Audiology

Publication type

meta_analysis

Evidence level

1a

Population

Older adults with age-related hearing loss receiving cochlear implants

Intervention

Cochlear implantation