title: European multi-centre study of the Nucleus Hybrid L24 cochlear implant.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the preservation of residual hearing in subjects who received the Nucleus Hybrid L24 cochlear implant. To investigate the performance benefits up to one year post-implantation in terms of speech recognition, sound quality, and quality of life.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, with sequential enrolment and within-subject comparisons. Post-operative performance using a Freedom Hybrid sound processor was compared with that of pre-operative hearing aids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-six adult hearing-impaired subjects with bilateral severe-to-profound high frequency hearing loss.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group median increase in air-conduction thresholds in the implanted ear for test frequencies 125-1000 Hz was < 15 dB across the population; both immediately and one year post-operatively. Eighty-eight percent of subjects used the Hybrid processor at one year post-op. Sixty-five percent of subjects had significant gain in speech recognition in quiet, and 73% in noise (≥ 20 percentage points/2 dB SNR). Mean SSQ subscale scores were significantly improved (+ 1.2, + 1.3, + 1.8 points, p < 0.001), as was mean HUI3 score (+ 0.117, p < 0.01). Combining residual hearing with CI gave 22-26 %age points mean benefit in speech recognition scores over CI alone (p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Useful residual hearing was conserved in 88% of subjects. Speech perception was significantly improved over preoperative hearing aids, as was sound quality and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: * MHH , Hannover , Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lenarz
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cuda
authors.forename: Alec
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald O'Connor
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frachet
authors.forename: Johan H M
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Frijns
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klenzner
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Laszig
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manrique
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merkus
authors.forename: Emmanuel A M
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Mylanus
authors.forename: Erwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Offeciers
authors.forename: Joerg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramos-Macias
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Robier
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Sterkers
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Uziel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011788:Quality of Life; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013065:Speech Intelligibility; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult