Quality of life in postlingually deaf patients following cochlear implantation

Most cochlear implant studies are focused on improvement of speech perception associated with implantation. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of cochlear implantation on quality of life changes in Spanish users. Thirty postlingually deaf patients fitted with a cochlear implant completed the Glasgow Benefit Inventory, a questionnaire dealing with communication abilities, and an open-ended questionnaire. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory revealed a positive effect in 93% of patients. The use of a cochlear implant significantly enhanced discrimination ability, telephone use and self-confidence. A high degree of satisfaction was achieved in all situations except with background noise. Ninety-six percent of patients would recommend the operation to a friend. A dramatic improvement in quality of life following cochlear implantation is revealed by a great majority of patients. The results cannot only be explained by enhancements to auditory perception.     

语后聋成人人工耳蜗植入后言语感知能力的测评

目的通过对植入人工耳蜗的语后聋成人听力言语感知能力的测评,探讨人工耳蜗对语后聋成人言语康复的作用.方法受试者为14名语后聋成人患者,男性9例,女性5例;耳蜗植入年龄22岁～67岁,平均46岁;耳聋时间6年-42年,平均16年.在人工耳蜗植入6个月、12个月及24个月时,进行开放性单词和短句言语感知测试.分别在三种模式下进行:只听模式(开放人工耳蜗)、听觉加视觉模式(开放人工耳蜗加唇读)及视觉模式(关闭人工耳蜗只用唇读).结果在听觉模式及听觉加视觉模式下,患者对单词和句子的正确感知随人工耳蜗使用时间而不断改善.术后6个月,听觉模式下的开放性单词和短句的正确感知率分别是38%和54%;听觉加视觉模式下的开放性单词和短句的正确感知率分别是70%和76%.术后24个月,听觉模式下的开放性单词和短句的正确感知率分别是65%和72%;听觉加视觉模式下的开放性单词和短句的正确感知率分别是84%和88%.结论人工耳蜗植入能显著改善语后聋成人的言语感知能力,并随着人工耳蜗使用时间的增加,言语感知能力逐渐得到提高.     

Predicting speech perception outcomes following cochlear implantation in adults with unilateral deafness or highly asymmetric hearing loss

Objective: Unilateral deafness and highly asymmetric hearing loss can impair listening abilities in everyday situations, create substantial audiological handicap, and reduce overall quality of life. Preliminary evidence suggests that cochlear implantation may be effective in reversing some of these detrimental effects. Patient-level data from existing studies were re-analysed to explore potential factors that may be predictive of improved speech perception scores following implantation.

Methods: Logistic regression modelling examined whether improved speech perception following implantation under various listening conditions was related to the duration of deafness of the severe-to-profoundly deaf ear and/or the level of hearing in the better ear.

Results: Patients with a shorter duration of deafness were more likely to improve in listening conditions that created a less favourable SNR at the implanted ear than the non-implanted ear. Those with more residual hearing in the better ear were more likely to improve in the listening condition that created a less favourable SNR at that ear.

Discussion: The analysis suggests that characteristics of both ears may be relevant when seeking to identify those candidates who are likely to obtain benefit to speech perception following cochlear implantation.     

Re-training the deaf ear: Auditory training for adult cochlear implant users with singlesided deafness

Objective: While cochlear implant (CI) provision for adults with single-sided deafness (SSD) is now an accepted treatment option, auditory training programs specific to this group of CI users have not been described. This paper details the auditory training protocol and critical factors required to rehabilitate CI users with post-lingual SSD.

Outcomes and Results: Several key factors are integral to the success of the rehabilitation program; these include 1) CI users with SSD require a map that is balanced as closely as possible to their normal hearing ear and has optimal mapping levels; 2) the auditory training program needs to be stimulating, rewarding, and directly stimulate the implanted ear via Direct Auditory Input (DAI); 3) CI users need to achieve some success in the early post-implantation stages to maintain or increase their motivation; 3) CI users need to be fully committed to the auditory training; and 5) a well-defined structured auditory training program with immediate feedback and markers of success helps ensure optimal communication outcomes. As an indication of success, from the foundation of the program in 2008 until the present all adults with SSD who have received a CI at our clinic (N?=?114) only 5 have elected to stop using their device.

Conclusion: The auditory training program described herein has been developed to optimize hearing and quality of life outcomes for adult CI users with SSD.     

Complications of pediatric cochlear implantation

Cochlear implantation has been established as a method of auditory rehabilitation for selected deaf children. However, as with any surgical procedure, complications can occur and may be particularly devastating in children. In this retrospective study, complications encountered in 100 consecutive cochlear implant surgeries in children were analyzed. Surgical problems were limited to one case of delayed, transient facial paresis and one cerebrospinal fluid gusher. These findings demonstrate that cochlear implantation can be performed safely with careful preoperative planning and meticulous surgical technique.Presented at the Meeting of the Middle Section of the American Laryngological, Rhinological and Otological Society, Omaha, Nebraska, 21 January 1995     

Intelligence development of pre-lingual deaf children with unilateral cochlear implantation

ObjectiveThe present study aims to test whether deaf children with unilateral cochlear implantation (CI) have higher intelligence quotients (IQ). We also try to find out the predictive factors of intelligence development in deaf children with CI.MethodsTotally, 186 children were enrolled into this study. They were divided into 3 groups: CI group (N = 66), hearing loss group (N = 54) and normal hearing group (N = 66). All children took the Hiskey-Nebraska Test of Learning Aptitude to assess the IQ. After that, we used Deafness gene chip, Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) and Speech Intelligibility Rating (SIR) methods to evaluate the genotype, auditory and speech performance, respectively.ResultsAt baseline, the average IQ of hearing loss group (HL), CI group, normal hearing (NH) group were 98.3 ± 9.23, 100.03 ± 12.13 and 109.89 ± 10.56, while NH group scored higher significantly than HL and CI groups (p < 0.05). After 12 months, the average IQ of HL group, CI group, NH group were99.54 ± 9.38,111.85 ± 15.38, and 112.08 ± 8.51, respectively. No significant difference between the IQ of the CI and NH groups was found (p > 0.05). The growth of SIR was positive correlated with the growth of IQ (r = 0.247, p = 0.046), while no significant correlation were found between IQ growth and other possible factors, i.e. gender, age of CI, use of hearing aid, genotype, implant device type, inner ear malformation and CAP growth (p > 0.05).ConclusionsOur study suggests that CI potentially improves the intelligence development in deaf children. Speech performance growth is significantly correlated with IQ growth of CI children. Deaf children accepted CI before 6 years can achieve a satisfying and undifferentiated short-term (12 months) development of intelligence.     

先天性语前聋中国儿童双耳人工耳蜗植入疗效观察

目的：评估双侧耳人工耳蜗植入对极重度感音神经性语前聋患儿的听觉与言语康复疗效。方法：2例先天性极重度感音神经性聋儿童，单侧耳人工耳蜗植入术后2年和3年分别施行对侧耳人工耳蜗植入。术后1年评估患儿左、右耳单耳及双耳人工耳蜗助听听阈和言语识别率。以及言语清晰度。结果：①双耳人工耳蜗助听与单耳人工耳蜗助听相比。平均听阈降低分别为13dB和11dB；②在安静环境中双耳人工耳蜗植入儿童的言语识别率(开放项列)分别平均提高为9％和10％，2例双耳人工耳蜗植入儿童的言语识别率(开放项列)分别达97％和95％；③在嘈杂环境中对言语的识别能力明显提高；④言语清晰度有明显改善。结论：双耳人工耳蜗植入可明显提高极重度感音神经性语前聋患儿在安静和噪声环境下的言语识别率，对语前聋儿童的言语和语言发育有明显的帮助。     

人工耳蜗植入术后改良耳蜗位平片的探讨

目的 探讨改良后耳蜗位平片摄影位的临床应用价值。方法 21例人工耳蜗植入术后患儿(年龄30d～4岁)分别摄许氏提倡的耳蜗位平片摄影位和我们改良后的许氏耳蜗位平片摄影位,用Cohen(c)方法测出蜗管内电极数,将术中得数与2种片所得共3组数据行统计处理t检验。结果 2种平片均能清晰地显示蜗管内电极的位置和形态,2组X片结果与手术结果基本吻合,3组数据比较差异无统计学意义。结论 改良后耳蜗位平片摄影位方法简便,易使4岁以下患儿接受,且能满足了解人工耳蜗植入术后精确状态的需要。     

Music enjoyment with cochlear implantation

Since the advent of cochlear implant (CI) surgery in the 1960s, there have been remarkable technological and surgical advances enabling excellent speech perception in quiet with many CI users able to use the telephone. However, many CI users struggle with music perception, particularly with the pitch-based and melodic elements of music. Yet remarkably, despite poor music perception, many CI users enjoy listening to music based on self-report questionnaires, and prospective studies have suggested a disassociation between music perception and enjoyment. Music enjoyment is arguably a more functional measure of one’s listening experience, and thus enhancing one’s listening experience is a worthy goal. Recent studies have shown that re-engineering music to reduce its complexity may enhance enjoyment in CI users and also delineate differences in musical preferences from normal hearing listeners.     

人工耳蜗在老年性聋患者中的应用

目的随着社会人口老龄化,听力障碍在老年人群中的发病率也逐年增加,老年性聋引起的沟通障碍会给老年人群带来生活及心理上的变化,严重影响了老年人的生活质量。目前老年性聋的干预措施较多,其中重度及极重度感音神经性老年性聋患者可选择人工耳蜗植入,本文就老年性聋人工耳蜗植入的选择标准、术前评估、术后并发症、术后康复及效果评估等进行综述。     

Cochlear implantation in deaf infants

OBJECTIVES: With the application of universal newborn hearing screening programs, a large pool of newly identified deaf infants has been identified. The benefits of early intervention with cochlear implants (CI) is being explored. Mounting evidence suggests that age at implantation is a strong predictor of language outcomes. However, new behavioral procedures are needed to measure speech and language skills during infancy. Also, procedures are needed to analyze the speech input to young CI recipients. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort-sequential. METHODS: Thirteen infants with profound hearing loss who were implanted between the ages of 6 to 12 months of age participated in this study. Eight participated in two new behavioral methodologies: 1) the visual habituation procedure to assess their discrimination of speech sounds; 2) the preferential looking paradigm to assess their ability to learn associations between speech sounds and objects. Older implanted infants and normal-hearing infants were also tested for comparison. The pitch of mothers' speech to infants was analyzed. RESULTS: Patterns of looking times for the very early implanted infants were similar to those of normal hearing infants. Mothers' speech to infants with CIs was similar in pitch to normal-hearing infants who had the same duration of experience with sounds. CONCLUSIONS: No surgical or anesthetic complications occurred in this group of infants, and the pattern of listening skill development mirrors that seen in normal-hearing infants. Mothers adjust their speech to suit the listening experience of their infants.     

Advantages of cochlear implantation in prelingual deaf children before 2 years of age when compared with later implantation

OBJECTIVES: To compare the auditory abilities and speech performance of children with a profound prelingual bilateral hearing-impairment when subjected to a cochlear implant (CI) before or after 2 years of age. To analyze the complications that arose during, or as a result of, the implantation process in these groups. DESIGN: Prospective cohort single-subject, repeated-measures study of children with profound bilateral hearing impairment subjected to CI. SETTING: Tertiary referral center with a program of pediatric CI from 1991. PATIENTS: This study analyzed 130 children subjected to multichannel CI for profound prelingual bilateral hearing-impairment in two age groups: 0 to 2 (n = 36) and 2 to 6 years of age (n = 94). INTERVENTIONS: The children were evaluated before, and each year after, the intervention (for up to 5 years) with both closed-set and open-set auditory and speech perception tests. Their speech ability was evaluated according to the Peabody Picture Vocabulary and Reynell general oral expression scales. RESULTS: Auditory and speech perception tests improved significantly in all children after CI, regardless of the follow-up time. The infant's performance was better the earlier the implant was performed. Speech tests showed that the development of children treated before 2 years of age was similar to normal children, and no additional complications were observed when compared with CI in older children. CONCLUSIONS: When performed before 2 years of age, CI offers a quicker and better improvement of performance without augmenting the complications associated with such an intervention.     

Cochlear implantation for single-sided deafness and tinnitus suppression

Objective

To quantify the potential effectiveness of cochlear implantation for tinnitus suppression in patients with single-sided deafness using the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory.

Tinnitus after cochlear implantation

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate properties of tinnitus which starts after cochlear implantation. Of the 17 adult patients in our cochlear implant group, four (23.5%) who had no pre-implantation tinnitus were eligible for the study.

Methods

Each patient was requested to complete a short questionnaire regarding his or her experience with tinnitus. Tinnitus match test was performed for each patient by using an Interacoustic Clinical Audiometer (model AC40; Assens, Denmark).

Results

Tinnitus match test revealed a tinnitus frequency of a 4 KHz for three and of a 6 KHz for one patient. Mean value of the loudness score was calculated as 17.5 dB SL.

Conclusions

The results of this study emphasize the importance of counseling patients regarding risks of tinnitus after cochlear implantation.     

多通道人工耳蜗植入在Common cavity畸形患者中的应用

目的：探讨Common cavity畸形患者人工耳蜗植入后的语言康复效果。方法：对6例Common cavity畸形患者采用经乳突外半规管进路行人工耳蜗植入,并与6例耳蜗发育正常组进行听力情况比较。结果：32个电极全部植入者3例,28个电极植入者1例,26个电极植入者1例,22个电极植入者1例。与正常组比较,术中术后并发症差异无显著性意义。术中脑脊液多量流出者2例,少量流出3例,无流出1例,两组术后听力接近,均在30-40dBHL左右,无严重并发症发生,大多数患者术后听觉语言康复效果与政治家耳蜗者接近,少数稍差。长期效果有待进一步观察。结论：人工耳蜗适用于Common cavity畸形患者,但手术前应进行全面的听力学及影像学评估。     

人工耳蜗植入术前评估

目前,人工耳蜗植入(CI)是治疗重度-极重度感音性聋最有效的方法, 选择手术适应证、制定手术方案、提高术后康复效果均依赖正确的术前评估。从听力学评估、影像学评估、患者智力和心理特征评估、患者及家属的期望值及家庭环境四方面进行分析和讨论。     

Cochlear implantation in children with cochlear nerve deficiency

Objective

The aim of this study was to report on auditory performance after cochlear implantation in children with cochlear nerve deficiency.

Methods

A retrospective case review was performed. Five patients with pre-lingual profound sensorineural hearing loss implanted in an ear with cochlear nerve deficiency participated in the study. Postoperative auditory and speech performance was assessed using warble tone average threshold with cochlear implant, speech perception categories, and speech intelligibility ratings. All patients underwent high resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Results

According to Govaerts classification, three children had a type IIb and two a type IIa cochlear nerve deficiency. Preoperatively, four patients were placed into speech perception category 1 and one into category 2. All patients had an improvement in hearing threshold with the cochlear implant. Despite this, at the last follow-up (range 18–81 months, average 45 months), only one girl benefited from cochlear implantation; she moved from speech perception category 2 to 6 and developed spoken language. Another child developed closed set speech perception and had connected speech that was unintelligible. The other 3 children showed little benefit from the cochlear implant and obtained only an improved access to environmental sounds and improved lipreading skills. None of these 4 children developed a spoken language, but they were all full-time users of their implants.

Conclusions

The outcomes of cochlear implantation in these five children with cochlear nerve deficiency are extremely variable, ranging from sporadic cases in which open set speech perception and acquisition of a spoken language are achieved, to most cases in which only an improved access to environmental sound develops. Regardless of these limited outcomes, all patients in our series use their device on a daily basis and derive benefits in everyday life. In our opinion, cochlear implantation can be a viable option in children with cochlear nerve deficiency, but careful counseling to the family on possible restricted benefit is needed.