Nucleus 22-channel cochlear mini-system implantations in Mandarin-speaking patients

This article evaluates the benefits of the Mini System of the Nucleus 22-Channel Cochlear Implant on the speech perception and auditory functions of Mandarin-speaking patients. Tests adapted specifically for the assessment of a tonal language were administered in the best-aided condition preoperatively to four Mandarin-speakers. These scores were compared postoperatively with implant alone or with lipreading scores to quantify speech perception and auditory improvements resulting from the Nucleus 22 Mini-System cochlear implant. Four postlingually deafened adults underwent cochlear implant surgery using a Nucleus 22-Channel Mini-System Device via an inverted "U" postauricular incision and the posterior tympanotomy approach, without complications. After up to 2 years of rehabilitation, all four patients exhibited continuous improvement in both speech perception and auditory abilities over time. The improvements made by our Mandarin-speaking patients are comparable to studies on Western-language-speaking patients implanted with the same device, indicating that the Nucleus 22 Mini System enables profoundly and totally deaf patients to distinguish between the four separate tones present in Mandarin Chinese.