title: Performance outcomes for borderline cochlear implant recipients with substantial preoperative residual hearing.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined whether cochlear implant (CI) recipients with substantial preoperative residual hearing obtained more benefit from a CI than from a hearing aid (HA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective records review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary referral center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-seven CI recipients (11 children/teens, 26 adults) were identified that met the following inclusion criteria: preimplant sentence recognition scores greater than 50% correct in the implanted ear or greater than 60% in the best-aided/binaural condition (Group 1, n = 18); audiometric thresholds less than 70 dB HL at 2 or more frequencies (i.e., better than a severe-profound hearing loss; Group 2, n = 13 ears in 12 recipients), or those that met both the audiometric and sentence-recognition criteria (Group 3, n = 7).
  
  
  METHODS
  Postimplant speech-perception scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Postimplant speech perception was substantially better than the preimplant performance for 12 of 18 recipients in Group 1, 10 of 12 recipients (11/13 ears) in Group 2, and 5 of 7 recipients in Group 3 (total, 73.7%). Five recipients (13.1%) showed no change from preimplant performance levels. Results were inconclusive for 2 recipients (5.3%) because preimplant versus postimplant testing was conducted in different conditions. Three recipients (7.9%) exhibited decreased performance postimplant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For most recipients whose hearing was better than that defined by traditional candidacy criteria, performance improved with the CI. These results may help clinicians guide candidates in the decision-making process by providing information on the range of outcomes for recipients with similar preimplant performance levels, identify the need for additional preimplant counseling regarding expectations, and recognize the importance of systematizing preimplant and postimplant testing for longitudinal assessment of performance.
authors.affiliation: Boys Town National Research Hospital, Lied Learning and Technology Center for Childhood Deafness and Vision Disorders, Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.A.
authors.forename: Michelle L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: Donna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Neff
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Simmons
authors.forename: Mary Pat
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Moeller
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005260:Female; D006309:Hearing; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult