OBJECTIVE: To characterize the performance plateau after unilateral cochlear implantation (CI) in prelingually and postlingually deafened adults and to compare their relative progress. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Prelingually and postlingually deaf adults who received a unilateral CI and completed a minimum of 2 years of follow-up at our center. INTERVENTION: Unilateral CI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standard speech perception testing (consonant-nucleus-consonant [CNC] monosyllabic word test and hearing in noise test [HINT] or AzBio sentence test) were performed preoperatively and 3 and 12 months postoperatively, and annually thereafter. RESULTS: In postlingually deaf patients (n = 102), there was a significant improvement in word scores for 3 years postimplantation (p < 0.01). Beyond the 3 years postoperative time point, word scores continued to improve, albeit at a flatter rate. In prelingually deaf patients (n = 16) word scores improved significantly for 5 years postimplantation (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with postlingual deafness undergoing unilateral CI show significant improvement in speech perception for 3 years postimplantation, at which point their performance continues to improve, albeit at a flatter rate. The performance of adults with prelingual deafness improves significantly as late as 5 years postimplantation. These time intervals reflect a change to the currently reported 6 to 12 months period and should impact on counseling, especially in the prelingual CI candidate.
OBJECTIVE: To characterize the performance plateau after unilateral cochlear implantation (CI) in prelingually and postlingually deafened adults and to compare their relative progress. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Prelingually and postlingually deaf adults who received a unilateral CI and completed a minimum of 2 years of follow-up at our center. INTERVENTION: Unilateral CI. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standard speech perception testing (consonant-nucleus-consonant [CNC] monosyllabic word test and hearing in noise test [HINT] or AzBio sentence test) were performed preoperatively and 3 and 12 months postoperatively, and annually thereafter. RESULTS: In postlingually deaf patients (n = 102), there was a significant improvement in word scores for 3 years postimplantation (p < 0.01). Beyond the 3 years postoperative time point, word scores continued to improve, albeit at a flatter rate. In prelingually deaf patients (n = 16) word scores improved significantly for 5 years postimplantation (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Adults with postlingual deafness undergoing unilateral CI show significant improvement in speech perception for 3 years postimplantation, at which point their performance continues to improve, albeit at a flatter rate. The performance of adults with prelingual deafness improves significantly as late as 5 years postimplantation. These time intervals reflect a change to the currently reported 6 to 12 months period and should impact on counseling, especially in the prelingual CI candidate.
Authors: Alexander T Murr; Michael W Canfarotta; Brendan P O'Connell; Emily Buss; English R King; Andrea L Bucker; Sarah A Dillon; Meredith A Rooth; Matthew M Dedmon; Kevin D Brown; Margaret T Dillon Journal: Laryngoscope Date: 2021-05-27 Impact factor: 2.970
Authors: Michael W Canfarotta; Brendan P O'Connell; Christopher K Giardina; Emily Buss; Kevin D Brown; Margaret T Dillon; Meredith A Rooth; Harold C Pillsbury; Craig A Buchman; Oliver F Adunka; Douglas C Fitzpatrick Journal: Ear Hear Date: 2021 July/Aug Impact factor: 3.562
Authors: Claus-Peter Richter; Petrina La Faire; Xiaodong Tan; Pamela Fiebig; David M Landsberger; Alan G Micco Journal: Sci Rep Date: 2021-06-10 Impact factor: 4.379