Comparison of speech recognition in cochlear implant patients with and without residual hearing: A review of indications

Abstract

Objective

This study evaluated existing guidelines for cochlear implantation (CI) according to the residual hearing of the patient. Speech recognition performance of adults implanted according to their degree of residual hearing was retrospectively evaluated.

Methods

Speech recognition results of 174 adult cochlear implant recipients were analyzed. All participants had pure tone thresholds of >75 dB at 2 and 4 kHz and were divided into three groups based on differing levels of low-frequency residual hearing.

Results

Findings indicate that CI was of benefit for all patients with bilateral severe hearing loss and patients with nonfunctional residual hearing both in quiet and noisy conditions. Patients with residual low-frequency hearing could benefit from combined electro-acoustic stimulation compared to CI alone or to hearing aids alone preoperatively. The speech recognition performance of all CI recipients with different levels of residual hearing in the low frequencies was similar except that superior performance was observed in the group using electro-acoustic stimulation compared to electrical stimulation alone.

Discussion and conclusions

Study results demonstrate the success of CI in accordance with current guidelines and also support expanding implantation guidelines to include patients who have severe-to-profound high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss and usable residual low frequency hearing.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implant
• Residual hearing
• Electro-acoustic stimulation
• Hearing aid
• Speech test
• Indication for cochlear implantation

Disclaimer statements

Contributors None.

Funding None.

Conflicts of interest None.

Ethics approval None.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Gayane Sargsyan

Gayane Sargsyan, M.D., PhD, Senior Lecturer at the ENT Department of Yerevan State Medical University. Otology specialist at Nairi Medical Center. Research interests in the area of cochlear implants, audiology and neurotology.

Natalie Kanaan

Natalie Kanaan, M.D., PhD., ENT residency at Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover MedicalSchool, later ENT Specialist at the same Department. Currently ENT Doctor at Private Clinic. Research interest in General ENT.

Thomas Lenarz

Thomas Lenarz, M.D., PhD, Chairman and Professor at the Department of Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School. Co-director of the Cluster of Excellence Hearing4All Hannover-Oldenburg. Director of the German Hearing Centre and the Research Institute of Audio- and Neurotechnology in Hannover. Member of the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina) and the German Academy of Technology (acatech). Research interests in the area of auditory implants, biomaterials for medical implants, audiology and neurotology.

Anke Lesinski-Schiedat

Anke Lesinski-Schiedat, M.D., PhD, Medical head of the German Hearing Center of the ENT clinic of Hannover Medcal School. Since 2016 “Genetics counseling – related to ENT”. Research interests in the area of auditory implants, audiology and neurotology.