The effect of tinnitus specific intracochlear stimulation on speech perception in patients with unilateral or asymmetric hearing loss accompanied with tinnitus and the effect of formal auditory training

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies show that intracochlear electrical stimulation independent of environmental sounds appears to suppress tinnitus, even long-term. In order to assess the viability of this potential treatment option it is essential to study the effects of this tinnitus specific electrical stimulation on speech perception. Design: A randomised, prospective crossover design. Study sample: Ten patients with unilateral or asymmetric hearing loss and severe tinnitus complaints. Results: The audiological effects of standard clinical CI, formal auditory training and tinnitus specific electrical stimulation were investigated. Results show that standard clinical CI in unilateral or asymmetric hearing loss is shown to be beneficial for speech perception in quiet, speech perception in noise and subjective hearing ability. Formal auditory training does not appear to improve speech perception performance. However, CI-related discomfort reduces significantly more rapidly during CI rehabilitation in subjects receiving formal auditory training. Furthermore, tinnitus specific electrical stimulation has neither positive nor negative effects on speech perception. Conclusions: In combination with the findings from previous studies on tinnitus suppression using intracochlear electrical stimulation independent of environmental sounds, the results of this study contribute to the viability of cochlear implantation based on tinnitus complaints.

Key Words:

• Hearing
• audiology
• cochlear implant
• single sided deafness
• tinnitus
• implant

Acknowledgements

The authors are very grateful to the participants for their time and effort during data collection. Furthermore, the authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution from X.S. van der Tier from Maastricht UMC + for her valuable contribution in providing the formal auditory training. This paper is also in memoriam of our colleague Jogina Hettinga, who passed away on November 18, 2014. This study was financially supported by MED-EL (MED-EL Corporation, Innsbruck, Austria).

Declaration of interest

This work was supported by a research grant from MED-EL Corporation, Innsbruck, Austria. The funding source had no involvement in the study design; in the collection, analyses and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.