Predicting sequential bilateral cochlear implantation performance in postlingually deafened adults; A retrospective...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Sequential bilateral cochlear implantation (CI) is a common procedure for profound hearing loss.
• Predicting outcomes for the second cochlear implant (CI2) is crucial for patient counseling and management.
• Preoperative patient characteristics may significantly influence CI2 performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify preoperative factors affecting speech understanding after sequential bilateral cochlear implantation.
• To develop a statistical model for predicting the benefit of CI2.

Main Methods:

• A multicentre retrospective cohort study included 92 adult patients with postlingual deafness undergoing sequential cochlear implantation.
• Speech understanding was assessed using the Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) phoneme score at 12 months post-CI2.
• Statistical analysis explored the correlation between 18 preoperative factors and CI2 speech performance.

Main Results:

• Hearing aid use before CI2 (r = 0.46) and higher first CI (CI1) CNC scores (r = 0.21) positively correlated with CI2 outcomes.
• Longer duration of hearing loss before CI2 (r = -0.25) and higher preoperative pure-tone average (PTA) (r = -0.27) negatively correlated with CI2 outcomes.
• Predictive models for CI2 CNC scores were developed, incorporating these factors.

Conclusions:

• Preoperative hearing aid use and CI1 performance are key predictors of CI2 success.
• Factors like limited hearing loss duration and lower PTA in the second ear before CI2 also indicate better outcomes.
• Advanced age or long intervals between implantations do not necessarily predict poor CI2 results.