title: A longitudinal study in adults with sequential bilateral cochlear implants: time course for individual ear and bilateral performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine the rate of progress in the 2nd implanted ear as it relates to the 1st implanted ear and to bilateral performance in adult sequential cochlear implant recipients. In addition, this study aimed to identify factors that contribute to patient outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed a prospective longitudinal study in 21 adults who received bilateral sequential cochlear implants. Testing occurred at 6 intervals: prebilateral through 12 months postbilateral implantation. Measures evaluated speech recognition in quiet and noise, localization, and perceived benefit.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Second ear performance was similar to 1st ear performance by 6 months postbilateral implantation. Bilateral performance was generally superior to either ear alone; however, participants with shorter 2nd ear length of deafness (<20 years) had more rapid early improvement and better overall outcomes than those with longer 2nd ear length of deafness (>30 years). All participants reported bilateral benefit.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adult cochlear implant recipients demonstrated benefit from 2nd ear implantation for speech recognition, localization, and perceived communication function. Because performance outcomes were related to length of deafness, shorter time between surgeries may be warranted to reduce negative length-of-deafness effects. Future study may clarify the impact of other variables, such as preimplant hearing aid use, particularly for individuals with longer periods of deafness.
authors.forename: Ruth M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Reeder
authors.forename: Jill B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Firszt
authors.forename: Laura K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Strube
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013017:Sound Localization; D013067:Speech Perception