Bimodal cochlear implantation in elderly patients

Abstract

Objective

Bimodal stimulation is a standard option for asymmetric hearing loss in adults. Questions have been raised whether receiving two stimulations may conflict in elderly listeners where the central integration of an acoustic/electrical signal may be very important to obtain benefit in terms of speech perception.

Design

Clinical retrospective study.

Study sample

The outcomes from 17 bimodal cochlear implant (CI) users were analysed. The test material consisted of speech audiometry in quiet and in noise (STARR and Matrix).

Results

Bimodal PTA and speech perception both in quiet and in noise were significantly better than CI or HA alone. Age showed a significant effect on bimodal STARR outcomes. Similarly, bimodal STARR scores improved significantly in comparison to Better Ear.

Conclusion

Both Matrix and STARR tests were very difficult for many elderly CI listeners from the present study group, especially in unilateral listening condition. The performance improved significantly, emphasising a good integration of acoustic and electric hearing in this group of elderly bimodal listeners. Overall results highlighted how a specific study, based on speech perception in noise in the elderly listeners, might shed light on the effect of speech test modality on bimodal outcomes.

Keywords:

• Older adults
• bimodal hearing
• cochlear implant
• speech perception
• adaptive test

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Dr. Patrick J. Boyle for his continuous support and advices for the Italian STARR. The authors thank Fulvio Verdecchia, Raffaele Iorio and John Charles Pinna for their assistance with HA fitting provided within the Cochlear Implant Center before testing the patients.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).