Postlingual Deafness Research Articles

Visual and Auditory Verbal Memory in Older Adults: Comparing Postlingually Deaf Cochlear Implant Users to Normal-Hearing Controls

Purpose The aim of this study was to test whether a group of older postlingually deafened cochlear implant users (OCIs) use similar verbal memory strategies to those used by older normal-hearing adults (ONHs). Verbal memory functioning was assessed in the visual and auditory modalities separately, enabling us to eliminate possible modality-based biases. Method Participants performed two separate visual and auditory verbal memory tasks. In each task, the visually or aurally presented study words were learned by vocal production (saying aloud) or by no production (reading silently or listening), followed by a free recall test. Twenty-seven older adults (> 60 years) participated (OCI = 13, ONH = 14), all of whom demonstrated intact cognitive abilities. All OCIs showed good open-set speech perception results in quiet. Results Both ONHs and OCIs showed production benefits (higher recall rates for vocalized than nonvocalized words) in the visual and auditory tasks. The ONHs showed similar production benefits in the visual and auditory tasks. The OCIs demonstrated a smaller production effect in the auditory task. Conclusions These results may indicate that different modality-specific memory strategies were used by the ONHs and the OCIs. The group differences in memory performance suggest that, even when deafness occurs after the completion of language acquisition, the reduced and distorted external auditory stimulation leads to a deterioration in the phonological representation of sounds. Possibly, this deterioration leads to a less efficient auditory long-term verbal memory.

Is There Any Correlation between Spread of Excitation Width and the Refractory Properties of the Auditory Nerve in Cochlear Implant Users?

Background: The spread of excitation (SOE) and auditory nerve recovery function (REC) are objective measures recorded by neural response telemetry and may interfere in cochlear implant (CI) stimulation. Objective: To analyze and correlate SOE with the refractory periods in subjects with pre- and postlingual deafness implanted with different electrode arrays. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 323 ears separated by perimodiolar or straight arrays and by pre- or postlingually deaf recipients. Measures were collected intraoperatively on electrode 11. The SOE width was measured in millimeters at the 0.75 point of the curve, and the relative (tau) and absolute (t0) refractory periods were measured in microseconds. Results: There was a statistical correlation between the SOE and the t0 in the patients with postlingual deafness implanted with the perimodiolar array. The SOE width was statistically different between the straight and perimodiolar arrays and between the pre- and postlingual groups in the perimodiolar array. Tau was statistically different between the pre- and postlingual groups with the straight array and the t0, between the pre- and postlingual groups with the perimodiolar array. Neural response threshold and amplitude of the neural response were not statistically different among groups. Conclusion: There was a correlation between SOE width and t0 only in patients with acquired deafness. The findings suggest that different factors influence SOE and REC, considering SOE is different according to the electrode array and REC being different according the onset of deafness.

USING PICTURE- ASSISTED LEXICAL INPUT APPROACH TO TEACH VOCABULARY TO THE POST-LINGUAL DEAF STUDENTS

English has been one of the compulsory subjects for special schools in Indonesia. However, there have been a rather limited number of studies conducted regarding the teaching of English under the framework of Special Education. Responding to this gap, this current study aimed at investigating whether a particular language teaching approach called Lexical Input Approach assisted by series of pictures could provide a desirable effect on post-lingual deaf students vocabulary mastery. This research employed a pre-experimental Single Subject with a multiple base (A-B-A-B) design. The sample included three 8th grade Junior High School students with the similarity of ages and hearing-loss history. The primary data in this study were taken by using assessments and analyzed statistically by calculating the Percentage of Data Points Exceeding the Median (PEM). The findings indicated that there was an improvement in the students vocabulary scores after the treatments (from 41/ novice advanced category to 46 and 51/ novice high category). Thus, it could be concluded that using Picture-Assisted Lexical Input Approach was effective to improve English vocabulary mastery for post-lingual deaf students.

Modiolar Proximity of Slim Modiolar Electrodes and Cochlear Duct Length: Correlation for Potential Basis of Customized Cochlear Implantation With Perimodiolar Electrodes.

Recent studies have shown that cochlear duct length (CDL) varies among individuals and could significantly influence the final position of the electrode and its trajectory in the cochlea. Given this, we hypothesized that the degree of modiolar proximity of novel slim modiolar electrodes, such as CI532 and CI632, can also be affected by CDL. To test this hypothesis, we retrospectively evaluated individual CDL to determine if there is any significant correlation of CDL with degree of modiolar proximity. Fifty-one ears from 38 subjects implanted with slim modiolar electrodes by a single surgeon through the round window approach using the pull-back technique were included. Our cohort was classified according to the deafness onset (congenital versus postlingual) and the degree of modiolar proximity (less versus tight) with reference to the spiral diameter made by the slim modiolar electrodes in situ on transorbital x ray. We then analyzed the CDL and its metrics using a readily available surgical preplanning tool (OTOPLAN) to obtain comparable data. Among 30 ears associated with congenital deafness, 9 ears (30%) showed less modiolar proximity, while none of the 21 ears from 19 subjects with postlingual deafness exhibited "less modiolar proximity" based on our criteria. In this study, CDL showed significant variation among subjects. Importantly, a significant inverse correlation between spiral diameter and CDL (ρ = -0.581, p < 0.001) was found, showing that shorter CDLs have longer spiral diameter and less modiolar proximity. Moreover, further pull-back technique characterized by pulling out the electrode a little bit more in cases with shorter CDL, if not always, exhibited tighter modiolar proximity. A preponderance of less modiolar proximity of the electrode was observed exclusively among congenital deafness cases, demonstrated by a less tight spiral configuration even under the pull-back technique. Our data suggest that shorter CDL is associated with a less tight spiral configuration of slim modiolar electrodes postoperatively. Depending on the insertion technique, the differential degree of modiolar proximity of slim modiolar electrodes can be alleviated in cases with short CDL, which justifies cochlear duct length-based customized insertion of slim modiolar electrodes.

Acoustic Voice Analysis in Postlingual Deaf Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A Within-Group Comparison Study

Cochlear implantation (CI) improves the quality of voice and speech output. However, there are various factors that may interfere with the use of CI to accede desirable voice outcomes. The primary aim of the current study was first to measure three acoustic voice outcomes in postlingual deaf adult CI users who were Persian-speaking, and then, to compare these according to surgery- and auditory-related factors. Of interest was also to determine whether these acoustic measures were influenced by surgery- and auditory-related factors. A number of 113 postlingual deaf adults with CI were recruited. The voice samples were recorded in the same silent room to equalize the noise of the environment. The measures of interest were analyzed with the Praat software. Our findings revealed that time duration of CI use (P ≤ 0.008), pattern of deafness onset (P ≤ 0.011), and the interaction between them (P ≤ 0.022) significantly affected all vocal parameters. This means that the quality of voice was significantly better in the participants using CI for more than 2 years than in those using CIs for less than 2 years. On the other hand, patients suffering sudden postlingual deafness for less than 2 years had the best acoustic voice parameters compared with those suffering gradual postlingual deafness for more than 2 years. Some of the surgery- and auditory-related factors could be the reason for changes of voice parameters in postlingual deaf adult CI users.

The molecular etiology of deafness and auditory performance in the postlingually deafened cochlear implantees

Recent advances in molecular genetic testing (MGT) have improved identification of genetic aetiology of candidates for cochlear implantation (CI). However, whether genetic information increases CI outcome predictability in post-lingual deafness remains unclear. Therefore, we evaluated the outcomes of CI with respect to genetic aetiology and clinical predictors by comparing the data of study subjects; those with an identified genetic aetiology (GD group), and those without identifiable variants (GUD group). First, we identified the genetic aetiology in 21 of 40 subjects and also observed genetic etiologic heterogeneity. The GD group demonstrated significantly greater improvement in speech perception scores over a 1-year period than did the GUD group. Further, inverse correlation between deafness duration and the 1-year improvement in speech perception scores was tighter in the GD group than in the GUD group. The weak correlation between deafness duration and CI outcomes in the GUD group might suggest the pathophysiology underlying GUD already significantly involves the cortex, leading to lesser sensitivity to further cortex issues such as deafness duration. Under our MGT protocol, the correlation between deafness duration and CI outcomes were found to rely on the presence of identifiable genetic aetiology, strongly advocating early CI in individual with proven genetic aetiologies.

Influence of the pre- or postlingual status of cochlear implant recipients on behavioural T/C-levels

IntroductionPrevious auditory experience modifies the sensitivity of the auditory cortex to the afferent activity of the auditory pathways and may influence the threshold (T) and comfort (C) levels in patients receiving a cochlear implant (CI). Literature data on this particular topic is very scarce. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the differences in T/C-levels between pre- and postlingually implanted cochlear implant patients. MethodsRetrospective case review in a quaternary otologic referral centre was performed. Data on the T/C-levels have been collected in 90 consecutive CI patients divided into 2 groups. Group 1 comprised 16 prelingually deaf children implanted between 8 months and 10 years of age. Group 2 comprised 74 postlingually deaf adults (average age of 62 years). All patients were users of the Nucleus 24RECA (Freedom, Contour Advance-of-Stylet electrode) cochlear implant. All measurements were performed at the fifth implant programming session at 4–6 months after surgery, when stable T/C thresholds have already been obtained. ResultsThe behavioural C-levels present important and statistically significant differences between the pre- and postlingually implanted patients for all electrode contacts that could reach 30 CL. For the T-levels the observed differences were smaller and statistically insignificant for most electrode contacts. ConclusionsThe previous auditory experience (pre- or postlingual deafness) seems to be an independent parameter influencing the T/C-levels in patients receiving a CI. Together with the electrode contact impedance and the contact position in the electrode array it can explain up to 37% of the variability in the definition of the C-levels. The fact that the stabilised C-levels measured 4–6 months postoperatively can be up to 30 CL higher in the prelingually deaf patients than in the postlingual ones results also in a much higher dynamic range observed in prelingual subjects. Therefore implant programming of the prelingual patients should be very cautious in order to avoid the risk of overstimulation.

Hearing Loss Etiology in Patients Submitted to Cochlear Implant

Introduction: Hearing impairment is the most common sensorial disorder. Deafness has several etiologies. It is important to investigate them, not only because some may lead to lower performance with a cochlear implant, but also to define preventive strategies. Objective: To determine deafness etiology among patients submitted to cochlear implantation. Methods: Retrospective sampling of patients submitted to cochlear implantation between 2006 and 2017 in a Brazilian referral hearing impairment center. Patients were grouped into post-lingual or pre-lin-gual deafness and an etiological profile was outlined for each group. Results: 159 patients were evaluated, 74 post-lingual and 85 pre-lingual. In post-lingual group, the most common cause of hearing impairment was meningitis (n = 16/21,62%). Other etiologies were: non-syndromic genetic hearing loss (n = 12/16,22%), otosclerosis (n = 7/9,46%), autoimmune (n = 5/6,76%), viral infections – mumps and measles (n = 3/4,05%), Alport syndrome (n = 2/2,7%), Meniиreґs disease (n = 2/2,7%), ototoxicity (n = 2/2,7%), enlarged vestibular aqueduct (n = 2/2,7%), otitis media complications (n = 2/2,7%), trauma (n = 2/2,7%), lues (n = 1/1,35%), vestibular schwannoma (n = 1/1,35%), stroke (n = 1/1,35%), auditory neuropathy (n = 1/1,35%) and 15 patients (20,27%) had undefined etiology. In pre-lingual group, non-syndromic genetic hearing loss was the most prevalent cause (n = 22/25,88%), followed by perinatal complications (n = 20/23,53%), congenital infections – cytomegalovirus, rubella and mumps (n = 8/9,41%), genetic syndromes such as Waardenburg (n = 5/5,88%), meningitis (n = 5/5,88%), malformation – mostly incomplete partition type II (n = 3/3,53%), auditory neuropathy (n = 3/3,53%), ototoxicity (n = 2/2,35%) and 17 patients had undefined causes (20%). Conclusion: In our population, the most frequent etiology for post-lingual deafness was meningitis and for pre-lingual deafness was non-syndromic genetic causes.

Comparison of Resilience and Subjective Well-being to Fathers and Mothers Who Have Postlingual Deafness Children

This study aims to compare the resilience and subjective well-being of fathers with mothers who have postlingual deafness children. Participants in this study were 336 parents (168 fathers and 168 mothers) who had postlingual deafness children, were biological fathers and mothers of postlingual deafness children, lived with their partners and children who experienced postlingual deafness, were able to communicate verbally and in writing using Indonesian good, domiciled in West Java. This research uses a comparative study approach. The instrument used in this study is the CD-RISC which has been modified into Indonesian by Lamsinar &amp; Ratna (2011) and subjective well-being instruments constructed by researchers based on the Diener theory. The findings in this study reveal that there are significant differences in resilience and subjective well-being between fathers and mothers who have postlingual deafness children. Based on the average resilience and average subjective well-being seen in the group, the group of fathers who have postlingual deafness children has a higher score compared to the group of mothers who have postlingual deafness children.

Acoustic analysis on the speech of a cochlear implant patient: A case study of post-lingual deafness

Acoustic analysis on the speech of a cochlear implant patient: A case study of post-lingual deafness

Implicit Processing of Pitch in Postlingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users.

Cochlear implant (CI) users can only access limited pitch information through their device, which hinders music appreciation. Poor music perception may not only be due to CI technical limitations; lack of training or negative attitudes toward the electric sound might also contribute to it. Our study investigated with an implicit (indirect) investigation method whether poorly transmitted pitch information, presented as musical chords, can activate listeners’ knowledge about musical structures acquired prior to deafness. Seven postlingually deafened adult CI users participated in a musical priming paradigm investigating pitch processing without explicit judgments. Sequences made of eight sung-chords that ended on either a musically related (expected) target chord or a less-related (less-expected) target chord were presented. The use of a priming task based on linguistic features allowed CI patients to perform fast judgments on target chords in the sung music. If listeners’ musical knowledge is activated and allows for tonal expectations (as in normal-hearing listeners), faster response times were expected for related targets than less-related targets. However, if the pitch percept is too different and does not activate musical knowledge acquired prior to deafness, storing pitch information in a short-term memory buffer predicts the opposite pattern. If transmitted pitch information is too poor, no difference in response times should be observed. Results showed that CI patients were able to perform the linguistic task on the sung chords, but correct response times indicated sensory priming, with faster response times observed for the less-related targets: CI patients processed at least some of the pitch information of the musical sequences, which was stored in an auditory short-term memory and influenced chord processing. This finding suggests that the signal transmitted via electric hearing led to a pitch percept that was too different from that based on acoustic hearing, so that it did not automatically activate listeners’ previously acquired musical structure knowledge. However, the transmitted signal seems sufficiently informative to lead to sensory priming. These findings are encouraging for the development of pitch-related training programs for CI patients, despite the current technological limitations of the CI coding.

ForwardFocus with cochlear implant recipients in spatially separated and fluctuating competing signals – introduction of a reference metric

Objective: To clinically evaluate ForwardFocus in noise with experienced Nucleus® cochlear implant (CI) recipients.Design: Listening performance with ForwardFocus was compared against the best in class directional microphone program (BEAM®). Speech comprehension was tested with the Oldenburg sentence test with competing signals (stationary, three, six and 18-talker babble) in both co-located and spatially-separated listening environments. Additionally, normal hearing participants were tested monaurally in the same listening environments as a reference and to promote cross-study comparisons between CI clinical study outcomes.Study sample: Post-lingually deaf adult CI recipients (n = 20) who were experienced users of the Nucleus sound processor (Cochlear Limited).Results: Improved speech comprehension was found with the ForwardFocus program compared to the BEAM program in a co-located frontal listening environment for both stationary and fluctuating competing signals. In spatially-separated environments ForwardFocus provided significant speech reception threshold (SRT) improvements of 5.8 dB for three-talker competing signals, respectively.Conclusions: ForwardFocus was shown to significantly improve speech comprehension in a wide range of listening environments. This technology is likely to provide significant improvements in real-world listening for CI recipients, given the clinically relevant performance outcomes in challenging dynamic noise environments, bringing their performance closer to their normal hearing peers.

Spatial Cues Influence Time Estimations in Deaf Individuals.

SummaryRecent studies have reported a strong interaction between spatial and temporal representation when visual experience is missing: blind people use temporal representation of events to represent spatial metrics. Given the superiority of audition on time perception, we hypothesized that when audition is not available complex temporal representations could be impaired, and spatial representation of events could be used to build temporal metrics. To test this hypothesis, deaf and hearing subjects were tested with a visual temporal task where conflicting and not conflicting spatiotemporal information was delivered. As predicted, we observed a strong deficit of deaf participants when only temporal cues were useful and space was uninformative with respect to time. However, the deficit disappeared when coherent spatiotemporal cues were presented and increased for conflicting spatiotemporal stimuli. These results highlight that spatial cues influence time estimations in deaf participants, suggesting that deaf individuals use spatial information to infer temporal environmental coordinates.

Further Evidence of the Relationship Between Cochlear Implant Electrode Positioning and Hearing Outcomes.

Postoperative imaging studies by numerous groups have revealed that final cochlear implant (CI) electrode position impacts audiological outcomes with scalar location consistently shown to be a significant factor. Modiolar proximity has been less extensively studied, and findings regarding the effect of insertion depth have been inconsistent. Using previously developed automated algorithms, we determined CI electrode position in an Institutional Review Board-approved database of 220 CI ears. Generalized linear models (GLM) were used to analyze the relationship between audiological outcomes and factors including age, duration of CI use, device type, and electrode position. For precurved arrays, GLM revealed that scalar position, modiolar proximity, base insertion depth, and sex were significant factors for Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) words (R = 0.43, p < 0.001, n = 92 arrays), while scalar position, modiolar proximity, age, and postlingual onset of deafness were significant for Bamford-Kawal-Bench Sentences in Noise (BKB-SIN) (R = 0.51, p < 0.001, n = 85) scores. Other factors were not significant in the final model after controlling for these variables. For straight arrays, we found the insertion depth, postlingual deafness, and length of CI use to be highly significant (R = 0.47, p < 0.001) factors for CNC words (91 arrays), while for BKB-SIN scores the most significant (R = 0.47, p < 0.001) factors were insertion depth, younger age, and postlingual deafness (89 arrays). Our results confirm the significance of electrode positioning in audiological outcomes. The most significant positional predictors of outcome for precurved arrays were full scala tympani (ST) insertion and the modiolar distance, while for the lateral wall arrays the depth of insertion was the most significant factor.

Application of Ambulatory Phonation Monitoring (APM) in the measurement of daily speaking-time and voice intensity before and after cochlear implant in deaf adult patients

Objectiveto evaluate the changes in daily voice production, analysed through the Ambulatory Phonation Monitoring (APM), and their relationship with Quality of Life (QOL) measurements in a group of profound deaf patients treated with Cochlear Implant (CI). MethodsA total of 12 consecutive post-lingual deaf patients (8 females and 4 males) treated with CI for bilateral severe-to-profound hearing loss were enrolled. Each patient was evaluated before and after 6 months of CI use. In particular, the daily voice production evaluation was performed using the APM, while QOL information were gathered from the Italian version of the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (I-NCIQ). ResultsSignificant differences in the APM results obtained before and after CI were found. In particular, a significant decrease of the mean amplitude and a significant increase of the daily phonation time and percentage of phonation time were demonstrated after CI use in all the patients. A significant improvement in the I-NCIQ scores was demonstrated after CI use and significant correlations among I-NCIQ scores and the APM parameters were found. ConclusionsThe APM could be useful in the evaluation of the benefits of cochlear implantation and may represents an indicator of deaf patient participation. In addition, the daily voice production’s modifications after CI and their significant relations with the changes in QOL measurements could be useful in treatment planning as well as during pre- and post-operative counselling.

Current indications for cochlear implantation in adults and children.

Surgical treatment of deafness by cochlear implants is used for more than 40 years, and during this period permanently, gradual and significant expansion of indications for this surgery has been observed. In our Department in the years 1994-2018 1480 cochlear implantations were performed, both in adults (647) and in children (883). In this study current indications and the rules for eligibility of patients based on 25 years of experience are presented. Indications for cochlear implantation in adults are: 1) bilateral postlingual deafness, 2) bilateral sensorineural hearing loss - in pure tone audiometry &gt; 70 dB HL (average 500-4000 Hz) and in speech audiometry in hearing aids understanding &lt; 50% of words for the intensity of the stimulus 65 dB, in the absence of the benefits of hearing aids, 3) bilateral profound hearing loss for high frequency with good hearing for low frequency, in the absence of the benefits of hearing aids, 4) some cases of asymmetric hearing loss with intensive tinnitus in the deaf ear. An indication in children is bilateral sensorineural hearing loss &gt; 80dB HL confirmed by hearing tests, after about 6 months of rehabilitation with the use of hearing aids. Although cochlear implantation is used for more than 40 years, the indications for this treatment underlies constant modifications. They concern the age of eligible patients, implantation in patients with partially preserved hearing, as well as treatment for patients with difficult anatomical conditions. In many countries, bilateral implantations are commonly performed, and more and more centers recommend this treatment in the case of unilateral deafness or asymmetric hearing loss, especially with the accompanying tinnitus in the deaf ear.

A novel pathogenic variant in OSBPL2 linked to hereditary late-onset deafness in a Mongolian family

BackgroundTo investigate the clinical features and the underlying causal gene of a family with hereditary late-onset deafness in Inner Mongolia of China, and to provide evidence for the early genetic screening and diagnosis of this disease.MethodsFamily data were collected to draw a pedigree. Audiological testing and physical examination of the family members were conducted following questionnaire. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of 5 family members (3 patients and 2 normal control) and subjected to whole genome sequencing for identifying deafness casual genes. The pathogenic variant in the deafness gene was further confirmed by Sanger sequencing.ResultsThe family is composed of a total of 6 generations, with 53 traceable individuals. In this family,19 of them were diagnosed with post lingual deafness with the age of onset between 10 and 40 years, displaying delayed and progressive hearing loss. Patients with hearing loss showed bilateral symmetry and mild to severe sensorineural deafness. The pattern of deafness inheritance in this family is autosomal dominant. Whole genome sequencing identified a novel pathogenic frameshift mutation, c.158_159delAA (p.Gln53Arg fs*100) in the gene OSBPL2 (Oxysterol-binding protein-related protein 2, NM_144498.2), which is absent from genomic data of 201 unrelated normal subjects. This pathogenic variant was further validated by Sanger sequencing, and was found to co-segregate in this family.ConclusionsWhole genome sequencing identified a two-nucleotide deletion in OSBPL2 (c.158_159delAA) as the pathogenic variant for deafness in the family. Our finding expands the mutational spectrum of OSBPL2 and contributes to the pathogenic variant list in genetic counseling for deafness screening.

Clinical analysis of 54 patients with non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct

Objective:To further recognize the clinical characteristics of non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct through the retrospective analysis of cases, with the purpose of providing references for clinical diagnosis and treatment. Method:Collect 54 cases of non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct, and analyze their clinical characteristics after history taking, physical examination, audiometry and imaging examination. Measure the biggest width of midpoint between internal and external of vestibular aqueduct on temporal bone thin-section CT, and analyze the relationship between the pipe width and sides of ear, types of hearing loss and degree of hearing loss through t test. Result:All 54 patients with non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct had bilateral ear involvement. There were 42 cases with prelingual deafness, 12 cases with postlingual deafness, and there were 38 ears with severe deafness, 70 ears with profound deafness. Ninety-six ears of hearing loss showed sensorineural deafness, and 12 ears manifested mixed deafness. The biggest width of midpoint between internal and external of vestibular aqueduct spread over 1.60-3.90 mm, and the average was 2.60 mm. There were no significant differences in data between left and right sides, degree of hearing loss and type of hearing loss. Conclusion:Non-syndromic enlarged vestibular aqueduct mainly manifests serious sensorineural deafness, and the diagnosis depends on imaging examination. There is no difference in the degree of expanding between left and right ear, and the extent of enlargement is not related to the type and the severity of hearing loss.

Do Personality Factors Assessed Before Cochlear Implantation Predict Hearing-Related Quality Of Life After Cochlear Implantation in Postlingually Deafened Adults?

Studies have shown that cochlear implants improve deaf patients' hearing-related quality of life (hrQoL), but the degree of improvement varies considerably between patients. This study investigated whether personality factors contribute to hrQoL outcome after cochlear implantation. Fifty adult patients with postlingual hearing loss who received a unilateral cochlear implant were administered the Neuroticism-Extraversion-Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI; a personality inventory) and the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ; a hrQoL questionnaire). The NEO-FFI was administered only before implantation; the NCIQ was administered before implantation and 12 months after implant activation. A linear regression analysis was computed to detect whether NCIQ scores at 12 months were predicted by the NEO-FFI personality factors (i.e., Extraversion, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness) assessed before implantation. HrQoL scores had significantly improved 12 months after cochlear implantation in all subdomains of the NCIQ. Of the five personality factors, solely Neuroticism was negatively associated to the NCIQ subdomain self-esteem (β = -0.34; p = 0.013) at 12 months after cochlear implantation. While significant improvement of hrQoL was seen 12 months after implant activation, this improvement was barely predicted by the Big-Five personality traits measured before implantation. Only Neuroticism was found to moderately influence postimplantation hrQoL in our patients, in the way that higher degrees of Neuroticism tend to go along with lower degrees of self-esteem (as conceptualized by the NCIQ). The failure to detect personality effects on hrQoL could partly be due to the low levels of Extraversion and Openness to Experience observed in our sample of patients with hearing loss.

Cochlear Implant Users with Otosclerosis: Are Hearing and Quality of Life Outcomes Worse than in Cochlear Implant Users without Otosclerosis?

Background: The otosclerotic process may influence the performance of the cochlear implant (CI). Difficulty in inserting the electrode array due to potential ossification of the cochlea, facial nerve stimulation, and instability of the results are potential challenges for the CI team. Objectives: To evaluate hearing results and subjective outcomes of CI users with otosclerosis and to compare them with those of CI users without otosclerosis. Method: Retrospective review of 239 adults with bilateral profound postlingual deafness who underwent unilateral cochlear implantation between 1992 and 2017. Hearing and speech understanding were assessed via pure-tone audiometry and speech perception tests. Subjective outcomes were assessed via the Nijmegen Cochlear Implant Questionnaire (NCIQ), the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), and the Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI₁₉) at 6 months, 12 months, and at the last follow-up. Results: Subjects were 22 CI users with otosclerosis and 217 without otosclerosis. Both groups had a similar duration of deafness and age at CI implantation. Results did not significantly differ according to group: no significant intergroup difference was found regarding the frequency of complete electrode insertion, facial stimulation, reimplantation, or PTA4 scores at the last follow-up. Regarding speech perception, no significant intergroup difference was found on any test or at any interval. Further, subjective outcomes, as measured by the GBI, NCIQ, and HISQUI₁₉, did not significantly differ between groups. Conclusions: Adults with otosclerosis and profound hearing loss derive significant benefit from CI use. Audiological and self-reported outcomes are not significantly different from that of other CI users with postlingual deafness.