Comparison of Speech Recognition and Hearing Preservation Outcomes Between the Mid-Scala and Lateral Wall Electrode Arrays
Ankita Patro, Nathan R. Lindquist, Natalie Schauwecker, Jourdan T. Holder, Elizabeth L. Perkins, David S. Haynes, Kareem O. Tawfik- Neurology (clinical)
- Sensory Systems
- Otorhinolaryngology
Objective
To assess speech recognition and hearing preservation (HP) outcomes with the Advanced Bionics Mid-Scala and SlimJ electrodes.
Study Design
Retrospective cohort.
Setting
Tertiary referral center.
Patients
A total of 237 adult patients implanted between 2013 and 2020 (Mid-Scala, n = 136; SlimJ, n = 101).
Main Outcome Measures
Consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) and AzBio (Arizona Biomedical) scores at 6 and 12 months; postoperative HP, defined as low-frequency pure-tone average ≤ 80 dB HL; scalar position.
Results
Mean CNC scores did not significantly differ between Mid-Scala and SlimJ recipients at 6 (45.8% versus 46.0%,
Conclusions
Compared with the Mid-Scala, the lateral wall electrode has superior HP rates and fewer scalar translocations, whereas speech recognition scores are equivalent between both electrode arrays. These findings can help providers with electrode selection and patient counseling.