Abstract
We compared the effectiveness of 2 surgical interventions for improving word recognition ability in a quiet environment among patients who presented with: (1) bilateral, precipitously sloping, high-frequency hearing loss; (2) relatively good auditory thresholds at and below 500 Hz, and (3) poor speech recognition. In 1 intervention (n = 25), a conventional electrode array was inserted into 1 cochlea. As a consequence, hearing was lost in the implanted ear. In the other intervention (n = 22), a Nucleus Hybrid short-electrode array was inserted 10 mm into 1 cochlea with the aim of preserving hearing in that ear. Both groups of patients had similar low-frequency hearing and speech understanding in the ear contralateral to the implant. Following surgery, both groups had significantly higher word recognition scores than before surgery. Between-group comparisons indicated that the conventional electrode array group had higher word recognition scores than the 10-mm group when stimulation was presented to the operated ear and when stimulation was presented to both ears.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 181-189 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Audiology and Neurotology |
Volume | 14 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 2009 |
Keywords
- Cochlear implant
- Electroacoustic stimulation
- Hybrid electrodes
- Low-frequency hearing
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physiology
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Sensory Systems
- Speech and Hearing