The actual state of and factors for speech perception ability in adult cochlear implant wearers

Ryota Tomioka; Atsushi Kawano; Nobuhiro Nishiyama; Kyoko Shirai; Yoko Ohta; Kiyoaki Tsukahara

doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103554

The actual state of and factors for speech perception ability in adult cochlear implant wearers

Am J Otolaryngol. 2022 Sep-Oct;43(5):103554. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103554. Epub 2022 Aug 3.

Authors

Ryota Tomioka¹, Atsushi Kawano², Nobuhiro Nishiyama³, Kyoko Shirai⁴, Yoko Ohta⁵, Kiyoaki Tsukahara⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan; Auditory Cochlear Implant Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Electronic address: ryota-t@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
² Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan; Auditory Cochlear Implant Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Electronic address: jibi-ats@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
³ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan; Auditory Cochlear Implant Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Electronic address: nobuoto@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
⁴ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan; Auditory Cochlear Implant Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital. Electronic address: anko@tokyo-med.ac.jp.
⁵ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan; Auditory Cochlear Implant Center, Tokyo Medical University Hospital.
⁶ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Tokyo Medical University, Japan. Electronic address: tsuka@tokyo-med.ac.jp.

PMID: 35952525
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103554

Abstract

Purpose: To elucidate the status of speech perception ability in cochlear implant wearers with unknown deafness causes.

Materials and methods: We extracted 1095 patients between January 1, 1986, and December 31, 2019; among them, there were 418 first-surgery adults who wore implants made by Cochlear. Finally, we included 204 patients (69 males and 135 women) without cochlear morphological abnormalities. All electrodes were inserted into the cochlea, without major intraoperative and postoperative problems. The minimum, maximum, and average ages of surgery were 17 years, 85 years, and 56.5 years, respectively. The participants were divided according to the electrode (Group A, CI22 straight electrode; Group B, CI24 straight electrode; Group C, modiolar hugging electrode type electrode; and Group D, slim straight electrode). We evaluated the following parameters: cochlear implant threshold and single-syllable, word, and single-sentence hearing ability. Further, we investigated impactful background factors.

Results: There was a decreased cochlear implant threshold in Groups B and C. Group B had a better ability to hear single syllables, words, and sentences than Group A. Groups C and D had significantly better ability to hear words than Group B. Low hearing aid threshold, good hearing ability with the 67S hearing aid, and short duration of hearing loss were associated with enhanced hearing ability.

Conclusion: In this study, it was suggested that the listening ability may have improved because of the progress of the electrodes. However, the possibility of a ceiling effect was also suggested.

Keywords: Adults wearer; Cochlear implant; Made by cochlear; Status of speech perception ability.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Cochlea / surgery
Cochlear Implantation*
Cochlear Implants*
Deafness* / surgery
Female
Hearing Aids*
Humans
Male
Speech Perception*