S Roux-Vaillard1, A Pineau2, L Laccourreye2, S Boucher2. 1. Service ORL du CHU Angers, 49933 Angers cedex 09, France. Electronic address: saroux-vaillard@chu-angers.fr. 2. Service ORL du CHU Angers, 49933 Angers cedex 09, France.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of immediate activation of cochlear implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study compared speech audiometry results at 6 months post-implantation, implant fitting data and complications, on Student test, between 19 patients receiving day-1 implant activation (immediate activation: IA) and 10 patients with activation at 2 weeks (classical activation: CA). RESULTS: Mean speech comprehension, using Fournier bisyllabic word lists at 60dB 6 months after implantation, was 61.58% in IA and 71% in CA (P>0.05). Mean intelligibility thresholds for 50% word-recognition were respectively 39.74dB and 36.5dB (P>0.05). Speech audiometry results at 6 months were not affected by immediate versus classical activation. Comfort-level settings at 1 month in IA were not significantly different (Student test: P>005) from intraoperative neural response thresholds: i.e., were practically stable. One IA patient required delayed activation at 1 month because of hematoma interfering between the external and internal parts of the implant. There were no other complications. The mean number of fitting sessions during the first year was 6.05 in the IA group and 6.55 in the CA group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Given certain precautions during follow-up, immediate activation after cochlear implantation was feasible, and did not impair audiometric results.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the feasibility of immediate activation of cochlear implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study compared speech audiometry results at 6 months post-implantation, implant fitting data and complications, on Student test, between 19 patients receiving day-1 implant activation (immediate activation: IA) and 10 patients with activation at 2 weeks (classical activation: CA). RESULTS: Mean speech comprehension, using Fournier bisyllabic word lists at 60dB 6 months after implantation, was 61.58% in IA and 71% in CA (P>0.05). Mean intelligibility thresholds for 50% word-recognition were respectively 39.74dB and 36.5dB (P>0.05). Speech audiometry results at 6 months were not affected by immediate versus classical activation. Comfort-level settings at 1 month in IA were not significantly different (Student test: P>005) from intraoperative neural response thresholds: i.e., were practically stable. One IA patient required delayed activation at 1 month because of hematoma interfering between the external and internal parts of the implant. There were no other complications. The mean number of fitting sessions during the first year was 6.05 in the IA group and 6.55 in the CA group (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Given certain precautions during follow-up, immediate activation after cochlear implantation was feasible, and did not impair audiometric results.
Authors: Lena Zaubitzer; Elena Schaefer; Elisabeth Wallhaeuser-Franke; Johannes Burkart; Katrin Herrmann; Beatrice Walter; Angela Schell; Claudia Scherl; Jérôme Servais; Daniel Haeussler Journal: J Otol Date: 2021-12-16