Speech Recognition Performance Differences Between Precurved and Straight Electrode Arrays From a Single Manufacturer

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Audiology

Background:

• Precurved cochlear implant (CI) electrode arrays may offer superior audiometric outcomes compared to straight electrodes.
• Previous studies often lacked control for crucial factors like preoperative hearing and patient age.
• This research addresses these limitations by comparing outcomes in a large cohort while controlling for confounding variables.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare postoperative speech recognition and audiometric outcomes between precurved and straight cochlear implant electrode arrays.
• To investigate the influence of electrode array type on hearing performance in adult CI recipients.
• To provide data that can guide the selection of electrode arrays for improved patient results.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted involving 231 adult CI recipients implanted between 2015 and 2021.
• Patients received either straight (522/622) or precurved (532/632) electrode arrays from a single manufacturer.
• Speech recognition (CNCw, AzBio) and hearing preservation were assessed at 6 and 12 months postactivation, with statistical models controlling for age, race, sex, preoperative hearing, and follow-up time.

Main Results:

• Precurved electrode arrays demonstrated significantly better performance on Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant word (CNCw) scores (p < 0.001) and AzBio scores (p = 0.014) compared to straight arrays, after adjusting for covariates.
• While AzBio scores showed a trend towards significance (p = 0.081) pre-adjustment, the adjusted analysis confirmed a significant benefit for precurved arrays.
• No significant difference in hearing preservation was observed between the two electrode types in the adjusted models.

Conclusions:

• Adult cochlear implant recipients with precurved electrode arrays achieved significantly higher speech recognition scores (CNCw and AzBio) than those with straight arrays.
• These improved outcomes were observed even when controlling for key factors such as age, preoperative hearing levels, and follow-up duration.
• The findings support the use of precurved electrode arrays for potentially enhancing speech understanding in cochlear implant users.