Frequency‐to‐Place Mismatch Impacts Cochlear Implant Quality of Life, But Not Speech Recognition

Abstract

ObjectiveTo retrospectively compare frequency‐place mismatch among adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients with lateral wall (LW) and perimodiolar/Mid Scala (PM/MS) arrays, and to quantify the impact of these factors on early post‐activation (3 months) speech recognition abilities and CI‐specific quality of life.MethodsOne hundred and twenty‐six adult participants were separated into two groups: (1) 83 participants who underwent CI with a PM/MS array and 43 patients who underwent CI with a LW array. All participants completed the Cochlear Implant Quality of Life Profile (CIQOL‐35 Profile) instrument. Angular insertion depth and semitone mismatch, which contribute to frequency‐place mismatch, were assessed using post‐operative CT scans. Word and speech recognition in quiet were determined using the Consonant‐Nucleus‐Consonant (CNC) and the AzBio tests, respectively (n = 82 patients).ResultsLW arrays were more deeply inserted and exhibited less semitone mismatch compared to PM/MS arrays. No significant relationship was found between semitone mismatch and early post‐operative speech perception scores for either PM/MS or LW arrays. However, greater degrees of semitone mismatch were associated with lower CIQOL‐35 profile scores for PM/MS arrays.Conclusions and RelevanceThe results of this study indicate that both the degree of frequency‐place mismatch, and its impact on CI‐specific quality of life, vary by CI array design.Level of Evidence4 Laryngoscope, 134:2898–2905, 2024