Feasibility of early activation after cochlear implantation

The purpose of the study is to investigate feasibility of early activation after cochlear implantation by evaluating long-term impedance change and speech perception.

Case-control study SETTING: Between July 2015 and December 2016, we prospectively enrolled 20 subjects for early activation (within 24 hours after cochlear implantation). On the other hand, from November 2013 to July 2015, 20 age- and sex-matched control subjects from the database of cochlear implantees treated with conventional activation schedule (4 weeks after surgery) were retrospectively enrolled.

Forty patients who underwent cochlear implantation surgeries.

The series impedance and speech perception score of both groups were compared.

No statistical difference in long-term follow-up between the two groups was found using GEEs and multivariate analysis. In the early activation group, impedance reached a steady level by the 2nd postoperative week, and the hearing perception ability significantly improved by the 4th postoperative week.

This comparative study illustrated sequential impedance data during early activation (24 hours) and conventional activation (4 weeks) after CI surgery. There were no major complications in either group, and the safety of early activation with respect to impedance changes, postoperative residual hearing preservation and speech perception scores were non-inferior to that of the conventional group. Therefore, in this study, we established the feasibility of early activation 24 hours after cochlear implantation.