Preliminary Results of Electric and Acoustic Stimulation Using the MED-EL Sonata Flex EAS Electrode Array.

Electric Acoustic Stimulation is the combination of acoustic stimulation (via a hearing aid) and electric stimulation (via a cochlear implant) in the implanted ear. This paper summarises the preliminary speech perception scores and hearing preservation in adult patients (n = 9) implanted with the Sonata Flex^EAS electrode array. Subjects were adult candidates who met the national guidelines for cochlear implantation yet had some usable low frequency hearing. The surgical procedure aimed to preserve this residual hearing in the ear to be implanted. Patients retaining this usable hearing post operatively were issued with the DUET speech processor which provides a combination of acoustic and electric stimulation. Patients whose residual hearing was not preserved used the OPUS 2 processor in conjunction with the Flex^EAS electrode array. The aim of the study was to investigate the speech perception scores of these two patient groups in comparison to patients using the standard Sonata Flex Soft electrode array. We aim to analyse whether patients whose residual hearing was not preserved perform as well as those for whom hearing preservation was not attempted. Results show that hearing preservation is possible in this patient group and the outcomes in terms of aided speech discrimination are potentially excellent. Therefore, it may be prudent to review the criteria for implant candidature in this patient group in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]