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Social Network Characteristics and Their Relations to Speech Recognition and Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users.

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Title: Social Network Characteristics and Their Relations to Speech Recognition and Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users.
Authors: Spector, Barak M.1, Sevich, Victoria A.2, Conroy, Sara3,4, Moberly, Aaron C.1, Tamatia, Terrin N.1 terrin.tamati@vumc.org
Source: American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. Jan2026, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p378-393. 16p.
Subject Terms: *Statistical correlation, *Self-evaluation, *Dialects, *Data analysis, *Social networks, *Speech evaluation, *Quality of life, *Research, *Communication, *Interpersonal relations, *Hearing disorders, *Adults, Cochlear implants, Cross-sectional method, Effect sizes (Statistics), Research funding, Questionnaires, Age distribution, Descriptive statistics, Statistics, Data analysis software
Abstract: Purpose: This exploratory study investigates whether social network characteristics are associated with adult cochlear implant (CI) outcomes. Specifically, it examines how both social network size and diversity, including the ages and accents of frequent communication partners, relate to word and sentence recognition, subjective communication abilities, and hearing-related quality of life (QoL) in adult CI users. Method: Twenty-six adult CI users (Mage = 67 years) with over 1 year of CI experience participated. Social network metrics were derived from responses to a lab-developed questionnaire. Participants completed word and sentence recognition tasks in quiet and multi-talker babble (MTB) conditions and self-reported measures of communication abilities (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale [SSQ]) and QoL (Cochlear Implant Quality of Life-35 Profile questionnaire). Auditory spectro-temporal resolution was evaluated with the Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT). Partial Spearman correlations were used to examine associations between social network characteristics and outcomes, controlling for SMRT. Exploratory subgroup analyses were also conducted based on high versus low auditory spectro-temporal resolution. Results: Greater age diversity within participants’ social networks was moderately associated with more accurate word recognition (in both quiet and MTB), sentence recognition in MTB, and higher SSQ and Cochlear Implant Quality of Life global scores. Exploratory analyses suggested stronger associations between age diversity and word recognition for participants with higher auditory spectrotemporal resolution. No consistent associations were observed for social network size or accent diversity. Conclusions: Findings suggest that exposure to age diversity among everyday communication partners in the social network may be associated with more successful communication and QoL outcomes in adult CI users, particularly for those with better auditory spectral resolution. While causality cannot be inferred, social networks may represent a modifiable and clinically relevant factor for supporting adult CI users in real-world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Data: Social Network Characteristics and Their Relations to Speech Recognition and Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Spector%2C+Barak+M%2E%22">Spector, Barak M.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sevich%2C+Victoria+A%2E%22">Sevich, Victoria A.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Conroy%2C+Sara%22">Conroy, Sara</searchLink><relatesTo>3,4</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Moberly%2C+Aaron+C%2E%22">Moberly, Aaron C.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tamatia%2C+Terrin+N%2E%22">Tamatia, Terrin N.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> terrin.tamati@vumc.org</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22American+Journal+of+Speech-Language+Pathology%22">American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology</searchLink>. Jan2026, Vol. 35 Issue 1, p378-393. 16p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistical+correlation%22">Statistical correlation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-evaluation%22">Self-evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Dialects%22">Dialects</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis%22">Data analysis</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+networks%22">Social networks</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Speech+evaluation%22">Speech evaluation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Quality+of+life%22">Quality of life</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research%22">Research</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Communication%22">Communication</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Interpersonal+relations%22">Interpersonal relations</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Hearing+disorders%22">Hearing disorders</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Adults%22">Adults</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cochlear+implants%22">Cochlear implants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cross-sectional+method%22">Cross-sectional method</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Effect+sizes+%28Statistics%29%22">Effect sizes (Statistics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Research+funding%22">Research funding</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Questionnaires%22">Questionnaires</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Age+distribution%22">Age distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Descriptive+statistics%22">Descriptive statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Statistics%22">Statistics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+analysis+software%22">Data analysis software</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This exploratory study investigates whether social network characteristics are associated with adult cochlear implant (CI) outcomes. Specifically, it examines how both social network size and diversity, including the ages and accents of frequent communication partners, relate to word and sentence recognition, subjective communication abilities, and hearing-related quality of life (QoL) in adult CI users. Method: Twenty-six adult CI users (Mage = 67 years) with over 1 year of CI experience participated. Social network metrics were derived from responses to a lab-developed questionnaire. Participants completed word and sentence recognition tasks in quiet and multi-talker babble (MTB) conditions and self-reported measures of communication abilities (Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale [SSQ]) and QoL (Cochlear Implant Quality of Life-35 Profile questionnaire). Auditory spectro-temporal resolution was evaluated with the Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT). Partial Spearman correlations were used to examine associations between social network characteristics and outcomes, controlling for SMRT. Exploratory subgroup analyses were also conducted based on high versus low auditory spectro-temporal resolution. Results: Greater age diversity within participants’ social networks was moderately associated with more accurate word recognition (in both quiet and MTB), sentence recognition in MTB, and higher SSQ and Cochlear Implant Quality of Life global scores. Exploratory analyses suggested stronger associations between age diversity and word recognition for participants with higher auditory spectrotemporal resolution. No consistent associations were observed for social network size or accent diversity. Conclusions: Findings suggest that exposure to age diversity among everyday communication partners in the social network may be associated with more successful communication and QoL outcomes in adult CI users, particularly for those with better auditory spectral resolution. While causality cannot be inferred, social networks may represent a modifiable and clinically relevant factor for supporting adult CI users in real-world settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology is the property of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=190920672
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1044/2025_AJSLP-25-00197
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 16
        StartPage: 378
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      – SubjectFull: Statistical correlation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Self-evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Dialects
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data analysis
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social networks
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      – SubjectFull: Speech evaluation
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      – SubjectFull: Communication
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      – SubjectFull: Hearing disorders
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      – SubjectFull: Adults
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      – SubjectFull: Cochlear implants
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      – SubjectFull: Cross-sectional method
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      – SubjectFull: Statistics
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      – TitleFull: Social Network Characteristics and Their Relations to Speech Recognition and Quality of Life in Adult Cochlear Implant Users.
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              Text: Jan2026
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              Y: 2026
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