Open-set speech perception in adult cochlear implant users with ossified cochleae.
This study describes open-set speech recognition in cochlear implant subjects with ossified cochleae and compares it to a control group with open cochleae. Twenty-one postlingually deafened adults with a Med-El Combi 40/40+GB split- electrode implant were matched to patients using a Med-El cochlear implant with a standard electrode. Speech recognition was assessed over an 18-month period. Split- electrode patients improved significantly over time, but their scores were significantly lower and increased significantly slower than those of controls. Of 14 patients with a duration of deafness less than 20 years, average sentence test scores were 50%, and average monosyllabic word test scores were 31%. This study provides evidence that cochlear implantation is beneficial to patients with ossified cochleae, but early implantation is advisable.
Bredberg
G
G
Cochlear Implant Clinic M43, Huddinge University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. goran.bredberg@ci.hs.sll.se
Lindström
B
B
Baumgartner
W D
WD
Farhadi
M
M
Goldberg
T
T
Gstöttner
W
W
Pillsbury
H
H
Skarzynski
H
H
Sorri
M
M
Heyning
P van de
Pv
Zaghis
A
A
Graham
J
J
Williams
G
G
D'Haese
P
P