A retrospective analysis of applied cochlear implant aspects surgery and audiotory

We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and postoperative complications in patients who underwent cochlear implantation. Additionally, we compared the postoperative auditory performance scores of patient with or without preoperative speech education. Also, auditory performance scores of the patients with an operative age less than 60 months were compared to older ones. The clinical and demographical characteristics of the patients (including age, gender, concomitant disorders, operated ear side) and intra- and post-operative complications were evaluated. Also, potential effects of patient age, preoperatively received speech education and cochlear implant type on postoperative auditory performance were assessed. A total of 80 patients who underwent cochlear implantation at Dicle University Hospital between Nov'10 - Jan'14 were enrolled to the study. Implanted devices and techniques were recorded. Forty-five patients who underwent speech education postoperatively were divided into two according to the status of preoperative speech education receivers and others. The postoperative auditory performance scores which was evaluated by using 'Listening Progress Profile' (LiP) and 'Monosyllable–Trochee-Polysyllable' (MTP) tests were compared between these groups. The study population was further divided into two groups as the patients with an operative age of less than 60 months and older; and two groups were compared in terms of the mentioned auditory performance test scores. The patients who received preoperative speech education had higher auditory performance scores (for both LiP and MTP) at 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th and 24th months of follow-up compared to the ones who did not (p<0.05 for all). None of the patients experienced intraoperative complication. However, perilymphatic leakage was developed in 4 of 80 patients (6.25%). Device electrodes were partially implanted in a patient. In addition, there was no significant difference in auditory performance scores regarding to device type and the age of operation. Key words: cochlear implant, complication, auditory performance, LiP test, MTP test.