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Hearing preservation among patients undergoing cochlear implantation
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Hearing preservation among patients undergoing cochlear implantation

Kathryn M Van Abel, Camille C Dunn, Douglas P Sladen, Jacob J Oleson, Charles W Beatty, Brian A Neff, Marlan Hansen, Bruce J Gantz and Colin L W Driscoll
Otology & neurotology, Vol.36(3), pp.416-421
03/2015
DOI: 10.1097/mao.0000000000000703
PMCID: PMC4665646
PMID: 25575373

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Abstract

Despite successful preservation of low-frequency hearing in patients undergoing cochlear implantation (CI) with shorter electrode lengths, there is still controversy regarding which electrodes maximize hearing preservation (HP). The thin straight electrode array (TSEA) has been suggested as a full cochlear coverage option for HP. However, very little is known regarding its HP potential. A retrospective review was performed at two tertiary academic medical centers, reviewing the electronic records for 52 patients (mean, 58.2 yr; range, 11-85 yr) implanted with the Cochlear Nucleus CI422 Slim Straight (Centennial, CO, USA) electrode array, referred to herein as the thin straight electrode array or TSEA. All patients had a preoperative low-frequency pure-tone average (LFPTA) of 85 dB HL or less. Hearing thresholds were measured at initial activation (t1) and 6 months after activation (t2). HP was assessed by evaluating functional HP using a cutoff level of 85 dB HL PTA. At t1, 54% of the subjects had functional hearing; 33% of these subjects had an LFPTA between 71 and 85 dB HL, and 17% had an LFPTA between 56 and 70 dB HL. At t2, 47% of the patients had functional hearing, with 31% having an LFPTA between 71 and 85 dB HL. Preliminary research suggests that the TSEA has the potential to preserve functional hearing in 54% of patients at t1. However, 22% (n = 6) of the patients who had functional hearing at t1 (n = 28) lost their hearing between t1 and t2. Further studies are needed to evaluate factors that influence HP with the TSEA electrode and determine the speech perception benefits using electric and acoustic hearing over electric alone.
Hearing Loss - physiopathology Humans Middle Aged Male Treatment Outcome Speech Perception - physiology Young Adult Cochlear Implantation Adolescent Aged, 80 and over Auditory Threshold - physiology Adult Audiometry, Pure-Tone Female Aged Hearing - physiology Retrospective Studies Cochlear Implants Child Hearing Tests Hearing Loss - surgery

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