Residual speech recognition and cochlear implant performance: effects of implantation criteria.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to determine the effects of preoperative speech reception on postoperative speech recognition with a cochlear implant and to develop a statistical index allowing prediction of postoperative speech recognition before implantation.

STUDY DESIGN

The study design was a retrospective case review with statistical modeling.

SETTING

The study was conducted at a tertiary referral center with an associated Veteran's Administration hospital.

PATIENTS

Postlingually deafened adults with and without residual speech reception participated.

INTERVENTION

Cochlear implantation with Cochlear Corporation CI-22 and CI-24 devices was performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Monosyllabic word recognition was measured.

RESULTS

Duration of deafness and preoperative sentence recognition are both significant predictors of word recognition with a cochlear implant and can account for 80% of the variance in word recognition.

CONCLUSIONS

Cochlear implant outcomes are variable but predictable within specific ranges.