Performance and self-perceived hearing impairment after cochlear implantation in Menière's disease.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Evaluation of the self-perceived hearing impairment and performance after cochlear implantation in patients with definite Menière's disease (MD).

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Seventeen unilaterally or bilaterally profoundly hearing-impaired patients suffering from MD who received a cochlear implantat (CI) were eligible for inclusion in this study. Their self-perceived hearing impairment using the short Speech Spatial and Qualities of Hearing Scale (SSQ12) as well as their performance in speech perception (German language Freiburger mono- and multisyllable test, Oldenburger sentence test) were compared with a best-matched control group of non-MD patients up to 24 months of follow-up.

RESULTS:

MD patients improved significantly in perception of monosyllables presented at 65 dBSPL, from preoperatively best aided 18.2% [2.4, 34.0] to 51.7% [39.4, 63.9] 1 year after cochlear implantation (mean [95% confidence interval]). Their performance approached the matched controls with 63.2% [55.7, 70.8]. Monosyllables presented at a lower intensity of 55 dBSPL revealed a significant underperformance of the MD patients (21.1% [12.6, 29.6]) in contrast to the non-MD controls (39.1% [30.9, 47.4]) 12 months post-CI. Self-assessed hearing disability was significantly more pronounced in MD patients with a mean total SSQ12 score of 3.6 [2.4, 4.9] in comparison to 6.1 [5.4, 6.8] of the matched non-MD controls after 12 months of cochlear implantation.

CONCLUSION:

Cochlear implantation substantially improves hearing capabilities in profoundly hearing-impaired patients with MD, but they tend to underperform in comparison to non-MD patients at least at lower sound pressure levels. This is likely one reason for the poorer self-assessed hearing function of cochlear implanted MD patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

3, retrospective, nonrandomized follow-up study.

• Authors: Christian Wrobel, Nicholas F Bevis, Astrid Klinge-Strahl, Nicola Strenzke, Dirk Beutner
• Journal: Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology (Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol) Vol. 7 Issue 1 Pg. 219-225 (Feb 2022) ISSN: 2378-8038 [Print] United States
• PMID: 35155801 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021 The Authors. Laryngoscope Investigative Otolaryngology published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Triological Society.