Patients with Mondini deformty: is standard electrode necessary?

Area of Science:

• Otolaryngology
• Audiology
• Neurosurgery

Background:

• Mondini deformity presents unique challenges for cochlear implantation due to cochlear malformation.
• Electrode array selection is critical for optimizing auditory and speech outcomes in these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare auditory perception and speech sound outcomes between standard and short electrode arrays in patients with Mondini deformity.
• To evaluate the impact of electrode array length on speech intelligibility and articulation in this specific patient population.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study of 14 patients with Mondini deformity who underwent cochlear implantation.
• Patients were divided into two groups: 7 receiving standard MED-EL electrode arrays and 7 receiving shortened MED-EL electrode arrays.
• Auditory perception, articulation, and speech intelligibility were assessed preoperatively and at least 2 years postoperatively using standardized tests.

Main Results:

• No statistically significant differences were found between the short and standard electrode array groups in auditory perception, speech sound, or speech intelligibility tests.
• All patients demonstrated significant improvements in all tested auditory and speech parameters following cochlear implantation, irrespective of electrode array length.

Conclusions:

• Short electrode arrays are a viable and effective option for cochlear implantation in patients with Mondini deformity, offering comparable outcomes to standard arrays.
• Electrode array length does not appear to be a limiting factor for achieving successful auditory and speech rehabilitation in Mondini deformity patients.