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Updated: Dec 6, 2025
Author Spotlight: Optimizing EAS with Long Electrodes for Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation
Published on: October 11, 2024
Preimplant Hearing Threshold: An Important Predictor of Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implantation With Lateral
Geonho Lee1, Seulgi Lee1, Jee-Hye Chung2
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
Objective:
To evaluate the outcomes and association factors of long-term hearing preservation (HP) in cochlear implantation with lateral wall (LW) electrode arrays.
Study Design:
Retrospective case review.
Setting:
Tertiary academic center.
Patients:
Thirty-four consecutive ears from 32 patients with a ≤ 80 dB HL preoperative low-frequency pure-tone average of 250 to 500 Hz were included.
Intervention:
Cochlear implantation with LW electrode arrays and the intention of achieving HP.
Main Outcome Measures:
HP classifications according to the HEARRING group and functional HP methods (≤ 85 dB HL of pure-tone threshold at 250 Hz) at 1 year postoperatively.
Results:
Based on the HEARRING classification, complete, partial, and minimal HP was achieved in 7 ears (21%), 12 ears (35%), and 4 ears (12%), respectively. Under functional classification, 14 ears (41%) exhibited functional hearing after surgery. The average threshold shift was 17.1 dB HL (SD = 16.9 dB HL). Among various clinical features, a ≤ 60 dB HL preimplant pure-tone threshold of 250 Hz was associated with HP outcome in both classifications (OR = 12.95, 95% CI = 1.29-130.01, p = 0.029 in HEARRING classification; OR = 14.36, 95% CI = 1.07-191.40, p = 0.044 in functional classification). The following parameters were not associated with HP (p > 0.05): patient demographics, surgical aspects (insertion route and depth), electrode array size, scalar electrode position, and presence of comorbidity.
Conclusion:
With LW electrode arrays, HP was achieved in 68% of HEARRRING group patients and 41% of functional classification patients. A ≤ 60 dB HL preimplant pure-tone threshold of 250 Hz was significantly associated with an increased rate of long-term HP.
