Cochlear implant: More hearing better speech performance

Background: Datalogging feature of the cochlear implant audio processor has been utilized to calculate the average daily wearing hours for cochlear implant devices by patients. Objectives: To assess the relationship between the time use of cochlear implant audio processor and speech development as well as to identify the lowest acceptable duration of audio processor use to achieve an acceptable language development. Methods: A retrospective study design including prelingual thirty-four ears (24 patients) who received the same electrode array of cochlear implant with 2 years follow up. The audiological and speech evaluations were done for all patients postoperatively and the last postoperative follow-up visit was used for analysis in this study. Results: The average daily use of the audio processor was 11.3 +/- 2.7 h per day. The pure tone average was 30.55 +/- 4.64 dB whereas the speech reception threshold was 30.88 +/- 6.12 dB. The average speech discrimination score at 65 dB was 68.59 +/- 16.80%. A significant positive correlation (r = 0.54, p value = 0.0009) was found between the daily use of the audio processor and the speech discrimination score. The lowest wearing time needed to have more than 60% of the speech discrimination score was 8.3 h/day. Conclusion: The present study revealed a positive correlation between the daily duration of the audio processor usage and speech performance. Moreover, we found that pediatric patients need to use their cochlear implant device for at least 8.3 h/day to achieve acceptable language development.