Isolated Second Implant Adaptation Period in Sequential Cochlear Implantation in Adults. Issue 8 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Smilsky, Kari; Dixon, Peter R.; Smith, Leah; Shipp, David; Ng, Amy; Millman, Tara; Stewart, Suzanne; Nedzelski, Julian M.; Lin, Vincent Y.; Chen, Joseph M.
• Is Part Of: Otology & neurotology. Volume 38:Issue 8(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Adult -- Bilateral -- Cochlear implants -- Hearing loss; Otology -- Periodicals; Ear -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Skull base -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.8005
• DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001461
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1531-7129

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To determine if depriving the use of the first cochlear implant (CI1 ) impacts adaptation to a sequential implant (CI2 ). Study Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: Academic center. Patients: Sixteen unilateral cochlear implant recipients undergoing contralateral implantation (sequential bilateral) were matched according to age, etiology, duration of deafness, device age, and delay between implants. Intervention: During a 4-week adaptation period after CI2 activation, patients underwent deprivation of CI1 or were permitted continued use of it. Main Outcome Measures: Speech perception scores and subjective quality of life outcomes before CI2 and at 1, 3, 6, and 12-months following activation. Results: Maximal CI2 speech perception scores in quiet were achieved by 1-month postactivation for the "deprivation" group (71.3% for hearing in noise test [HINT], p = 0.767 for change beyond 1-mo) compared with 6-months for the "continued use" group (67.9% for HINT, p = 0.064 for change beyond 6-mo). The "deprivation" group experienced a temporary drop in CI1 scores (67.9% for HINT in quiet at 1-mo versus 78.4% pre-CI2, p = 0.009) recovering to 77.3% by 3-months; unchanged from baseline levels ( p = 1.0). A binaural advantage over the better hearing ear was present for HINT sentences with noise (72.4% versus 58.8% for "deprivation", p = 0.001; 71.5% versus 52.7% for "continued use, " p = 0.01). Missing data precluded a meaningful analysis of subjective quality of life outcome scales. Conclusion: Bilateral cochlear implantation improves speech perception compared with one implant. A period of deprivation from CI1 shortens time to maximum speech perception by CI2 without long-term consequences on the performance of CI1 .