European multi-centre study of the Nucleus Hybrid L24 cochlear implant.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the preservation of residual hearing in subjects who received the Nucleus Hybrid L24 cochlear implant. To investigate the performance benefits up to one year post-implantation in terms of speech recognition, sound quality, and quality of life.

DESIGN

Prospective, with sequential enrolment and within-subject comparisons. Post-operative performance using a Freedom Hybrid sound processor was compared with that of pre-operative hearing aids.

STUDY SAMPLE

Sixty-six adult hearing-impaired subjects with bilateral severe-to-profound high frequency hearing loss.

RESULTS

Group median increase in air-conduction thresholds in the implanted ear for test frequencies 125-1000 Hz was < 15 dB across the population; both immediately and one year post-operatively. Eighty-eight percent of subjects used the Hybrid processor at one year post-op. Sixty-five percent of subjects had significant gain in speech recognition in quiet, and 73% in noise (≥ 20 percentage points/2 dB SNR). Mean SSQ subscale scores were significantly improved (+ 1.2, + 1.3, + 1.8 points, p < 0.001), as was mean HUI3 score (+ 0.117, p < 0.01). Combining residual hearing with CI gave 22-26 %age points mean benefit in speech recognition scores over CI alone (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Useful residual hearing was conserved in 88% of subjects. Speech perception was significantly improved over preoperative hearing aids, as was sound quality and quality of life.