Yao Wai Na, Turner Christopher W, Gantz Bruce J
Department of Speech Pathology and Audiology, University of Iowa, 250 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
J Speech Lang Hear Res. 2006 Oct;49(5):1085-90. doi: 10.1044/1092-4388(2006/077).
The purpose of this study was to investigate the stability over time of low-frequency auditory thresholds to better determine if the new technique of using a short-electrode cochlear implant that preserves residual low-frequency acoustic hearing can be a long-term solution for those with severe-to-profound hearing loss at high frequencies. The present study determined the long-term rate of decline in acoustic hearing in patients who have a preexisting hearing loss yet have not been implanted with a cochlear implant. A retrospective analysis of patients' audiograms that fit into the range for candidacy for the short-electrode device was performed to calculate the rate of change of threshold over time. The analysis of adult patients' data indicated that there was an average of only 1.05 dB hearing deterioration per year in the low frequencies and that presbycusis accounted for approximately one third to one half of this decline. The average deterioration of hearing threshold for pediatric patients was 1.2 dB per year; however, the rates of change in pediatric patients were considerably more variable (across individuals and across frequencies) than in adults. These data provide support for the idea that the short-electrode cochlear implant may be a practical solution for most adults in the long run, but this may not be the case for all pediatric patients.
本研究的目的是调查低频听觉阈值随时间的稳定性，以更好地确定使用保留残余低频听力的短电极人工耳蜗新技术是否能成为高频重度至极重度听力损失患者的长期解决方案。本研究确定了已有听力损失但尚未植入人工耳蜗的患者的听觉随时间下降的长期速率。对符合短电极设备候选范围的患者听力图进行回顾性分析，以计算阈值随时间的变化率。对成年患者数据的分析表明，低频平均每年听力恶化仅1.05分贝，其中老年性耳聋约占这种下降的三分之一至二分之一。儿科患者的听力阈值平均每年恶化1.2分贝；然而，儿科患者的变化率（个体间和频率间）比成人的变化率变化大得多。这些数据支持了这样一种观点，即从长远来看，短电极人工耳蜗可能是大多数成年人的实际解决方案，但并非所有儿科患者都是如此。
