Factors Associated With Auditory Lifestyle of Adult Cochlear Implant Users.

PURPOSE

Auditory lifestyle, which refers to the variety, range, and types of auditory environments individuals encounter in their daily lives, can affect individuals' daily communication functions and moderate the outcomes of hearing interventions. This study aimed to determine the factors associated with adult cochlear implant (CI) users' auditory lifestyle.

METHOD

This observational study included 209 adult CI users. The factors examined included sex, age, social network characteristics, geographical location of residence, cognitive functioning, and speech recognition performance. The Auditory Lifestyle and Demand Questionnaire was used to measure participants' auditory lifestyle. Associations between variables were analyzed using regression models and structural equation modeling.

RESULTS

Regression models indicated that CI users who had larger social networks, were younger or middle aged, and possessed better speech recognition abilities were more likely to experience a diverse and demanding auditory lifestyle. Additionally, sex, age, and cognitive functioning (memory) were associated with the size and diversity of social networks. Finally, structural equation modeling revealed that while age and speech recognition performance were directly related to auditory lifestyle, the impact of age and sex on auditory lifestyle was mediated by the size of social networks.

CONCLUSIONS

Sex, age, size of social networks, and speech recognition ability are associated with CI users' auditory lifestyle. This research highlights the significance of taking into account the demographics and social network characteristics of adult CI users when assessing the auditory environments they experience in their daily lives.