Speech perception after cochlear implantation in 53 patients with otosclerosis: multicentre results.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the speech perception performance of 53 cochlear implant recipients with otosclerosis and to evaluate which factors influenced patient performance in this group. The factors included disease-related data such as demographics, pre-operative audiological characteristics, the results of CT scanning and device-related factors.


METHODS
Data were reviewed on 53 patients with otosclerosis from 4 cochlear implant centres in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands. Comparison of demographics, pre-operative CT scans and audiological data revealed that the patients from the 4 different centres could be considered as one group. Speech perception scores had been obtained with the English AB monosyllable tests and Dutch NVA monosyllable tests. Based on the speech perception scores, the patients were classified as poor or good performers. The characteristics of these subgroups were compared.


RESULTS
There was wide variability in the speech perception results. Similar patterns were seen in the phoneme scores and BKB sentence scores between the poor and good performers. The two groups did not differ in age at onset of hearing loss, duration of hearing loss, progression, age at onset of deafness, or duration of deafness.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical presentation of the otosclerosis (rapid or slow progression) did not influence speech perception. Better performance was related to less severe signs of otosclerosis on CT scan, full insertion of the electrode array, little or no facial nerve stimulation and little or no need to switch off electrodes.
Rotteveel
Liselotte J C
LJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Radboud University Nijmegen, Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. l.rotteveel@kno.umcn.nl
Snik
Ad F M
AF
Cooper
Huw
H
Mawman
Deborah J
DJ
van Olphen
Adriaan F
AF
Mylanus
Emmanuel A M
EA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010040:Otosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D013201:Stapes Surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult