Word recognition following implantation of conventional and 10-mm hybrid electrodes.
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.
Dorman
Michael F
MF
Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Coor Hall Rm 2211, Tempe, AZ 85287-0102, USA. mdorman@asu.edu
Gifford
Rene
R
Lewis
Kristen
K
McKarns
Sharon
S
Ratigan
Jennifer
J
Spahr
Anthony
A
Shallop
Jon K
JK
Driscoll
Colin L W
CL
Luetje
Charles
C
Thedinger
Bradley S
BS
Beatty
Charles W
CW
Syms
Mark
M
Novak
Mike
M
Barrs
David
D
Cowdrey
Lisa
L
Black
Jennifer
J
Loiselle
Louise
L
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