  Let $f:X \rightarrow \Delta $ be a one-parameter semistable degeneration of
$m$-dimensional compact complex manifolds. Assume that each component of the
central fiber $X_0$ is K\"ahler. Then, we provide a criterion for a general
fiber to satisfy the $\partial\overline{\partial}$-lemma and a formula to
compute the Hodge index on the middle cohomology of the general fiber in terms
of the topological conditions/invariants on the central fiber.
  We apply our theorem to several examples, including the global smoothing of
$m$-fold ODPs, Hashimoto-Sano's non-K\"ahler Calabi-Yau threefolds, and Sano's
non-K\"ahler Calabi-Yau $m$-folds.
  To deal with the last example, we also prove a Lefschetz-type theorem for the
cohomology of the fiber product of two Lefschetz fibrations over $\mathbb{P}^1$
with disjoint critical locus.
