title: Word recognition following implantation of conventional and 10-mm hybrid electrodes.
abstract: We compared the effectiveness of 2 surgical interventions for improving word recognition ability in a quiet environment among patients who presented with: (1) bilateral, precipitously sloping, high-frequency hearing loss; (2) relatively good auditory thresholds at and below 500 Hz, and (3) poor speech recognition. In 1 intervention (n = 25), a conventional electrode array was inserted into 1 cochlea. As a consequence, hearing was lost in the implanted ear. In the other intervention (n = 22), a Nucleus Hybrid short-electrode array was inserted 10 mm into 1 cochlea with the aim of preserving hearing in that ear. Both groups of patients had similar low-frequency hearing and speech understanding in the ear contralateral to the implant. Following surgery, both groups had significantly higher word recognition scores than before surgery. Between-group comparisons indicated that the conventional electrode array group had higher word recognition scores than the 10-mm group when stimulation was presented to the operated ear and when stimulation was presented to both ears.
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Coor Hall Rm 2211, Tempe, AZ 85287-0102, USA. mdorman@asu.edu
authors.forename: Michael F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Dorman
authors.forename: Rene
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gifford
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McKarns
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ratigan
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spahr
authors.forename: Jon K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Shallop
authors.forename: Colin L W
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Driscoll
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luetje
authors.forename: Bradley S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Thedinger
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Syms
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barrs
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cowdrey
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loiselle
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003051:Cochlea / Q000601:surgery*; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000601:surgery*; D004598:Electrosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D046709:Pattern Recognition, Physiological; D010898:Pitch Perception; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception