Objective To analyze the effect of hearing rehabilitation and the changes in life of quality after cochlear implantation in elderly patients with age-related hearing loss.Methods The audiology, speech function and quality of life of 31 patients with age-related hearing loss undergoing cochlear implantation were evaluated and compared. Audiology was evaluated using hearing aid threshold and speech perception was evaluated using word recognition rate (WRS) before surgery, at 6 and 12 months after cochlear implant activation. The quality of life was assessed using the Nijmegen cochlear implant questionnaire (NCIQ) before surgery and at 12 months after activation.Results A total of 31 patients were enrolled in this study. The hearing aid thresholds before surgery, at 6 and 12 months after activation were (62.55±3.69), (46.58±5.14) and (38.68±4.26) dBHL, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The monosyllabic word recognition rates before surgery, at 6 and 12 months after activation were (9.55±5.81)%, (54.77±8.90)% and (68.52±7.21)%, respectively, the difference were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The recognition rates of disyllabic word were (19.87±9.72)%, (64.00±6.53)%, and (74.26±6.79)%, and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05). The recognition rates for short sentence were (28.00±10.58)%, (68.52±7.78)%, and (77.61±8.59)%, and the differences were also statistically significant (P＜0.05). The total scores of NCIQ before surgery and at 12 months after activation were 35.90±5.80 and 65.16±8.18, respectively, with statistically significant difference (P＜0.05).Conclusions Cochlear implantation can improve speech perception and the quality of life in patients with age-related hearing loss. Cochlear implantation can be chosen for elderly patients with severe or more hearing loss if the hearing aid is not effective.