Evaluation of speech understanding in long-term deaf patients after cochlear implantation

Introduction The care of long-term deaf patients with a CI is challenging for the treating CI team. With a duration of deafness of more than 10 years, a progressing auditory deprivation hinders the development of an open language comprehension. The aim of the retrospective analysis was the documentation of speech comprehension in patients with a period of deafness of more than 10 years.

Methods In 16 patients (1 bilateral, 15 unilaterally implanted) with a duration of deafness of more than 10 years, the postoperative speech audiometric results were evaluated on the basis of the Freiburg language test (monosyllables and numbers).

Results In 2 of the patients an understanding of monosyllables of more than 60% at 65 dB was found. One patient initially showed only a slight degree of monosyllabic understanding, but in the further course (up to 8 years) improved this to 85% at 65 dB. Another 3 patients achieved an understanding of monosyllabic of ≤35% at 65dB. In the remaining 10 patients, however, an understanding of 0% at 65dB showed. In particular bilaterally deaff patients (n = 4) achieved a noise hearing, by which warning signals can be perceived.

Conclusion Even with long-term deaf patients, a CI care can be useful, since an open speech understanding can be achieved in some cases. In rare cases, it may take several years before a clearer improvement in speech understanding is achieved. Patients with bilateral deafness benefit from a CI because it allows them to recapture ambient noise, leading to very high subjective patient satisfaction.

Poster-PDF A-1802.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020