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Background and Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the audiologic results after cochlear implantation (CI) in older patients and the degree of improvement in their quality of life (QoL). Subjects and Methods: Patients over 65 years old who underwent CI at implant center in Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital were included in this study (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). The control group was patient over 65 years old with normal hearing (n=54; 34 males and 20 females). We administered three questionnaires [World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF), World Health Organization Quality of Life-OLD (WHOQOL-OLD)], and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) to evaluate the QoL, CIrelated effects on activities of daily life, and social activities in all the subjects. Moreover, correlations between speech recognition and the QoL scores were evaluated. The duration of implant use and comorbidities were also examined as potential factors affecting QoL. Results: The patients had remarkable improvements (the mean score of postoperative speech perception 75.7%) in speech perception after CI. The scores for the WHOQOL-OLD and WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire responses were similar in both the study and control groups, except those for a two subdomains (social relations and social participation). The patients with longer-term CI had higher scores than those with short-term CI use. In general, the changes in GDS scores were not significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The treatment of hearing loss with CI conferred significant improvement in patient's QoL (p<0.01). The evaluation of QoL can provide multidimensional insights into a geriatric patient's progress and, therefore, should be considered by audiologists.

Background/aim: To emphasize the role of cochlear implantation (CI) in the auditory rehabilitation of patients with otosclerosis (OS) and share our surgical experiences on this rare group of patients. Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of the patients who have a diagnosis of otosclerosis and implanted between January 1998-May 2019 was performed. Preoperative and postoperative clinical, radiological, audiological and surgical findings are presented. Results: Among 2195 patients who have been implanted in our institution, 12 (0.54%) met the diagnostic criteria of OS according to their preoperative (clinical, radiological, audiological) and peroperative (surgical) findings. Electrode insertion was performed via "round window membrane and cochleostomy" in 8 and 4 patients, respectively. No major complications occured. All patients showed satisfactory performances by means of audiometric scores postoperatively. Nonauditory stimulation (NAS) which manifested as "facial twitching" was a challenging problem in one patient during the surgery and subsided after the operation. Conclusion: Our experience on CI in patients with OS revealed that the implantation was a relatively safe procedure and had satisfactory impact on audiological performances.

Introduction: Idiopathic facial paralysis or Bell's palsy is the most common type of peripheral facial paralysis. Advanced age and systemic diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension are considered as negative prognostic factors for Bell's palsy still controversial. Here, we aimed to compare the epidemiologic features and prognostic factors of patients with Bell's palsy aged ≥65 years. Materials and Method: Records of patients with Bell's palsy (age, ≥65 years) who were admitted to our clinic between January 2008 and December 2017 were evaluated. Results: We included 89 (72.4%) patients with Bell's palsy. The patients' ages varied between 65 and 91 (72.70 ± 5.9) years. Paralysis was in the right side in 59.6% (n = 53) and in the left side in 40.4% (n = 36) of the patients. Three (3.4%) patients had progressive facial paralysis. One (1.1%) had positive family history. After at least 6 months of follow-up, 71 (79.8%), 10 (11.2%), 6 (6.7%), and 2 (2.25%) patients were diagnosed with grade 1 and 2, 3, 4, and 5 Bell's palsy, respectively. Furthermore, a statistically significant correlation was observed between the initial paralysis grade and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (p=0.001). Conclusion: Although old age is considered as a negative prognostic factor in patients with BP, we observed satisfactory recovery rates in geriatric patients who received appropriate treatment. In addition, a significant correlation was observed between the initial grade of facial paralysis and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio upon admission, which can be considered as a prognostic factor.

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