Biomedical subjects

Ilona Anderson

Publications and source records attributed to Ilona Anderson.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Opinions on cochlear implant use in senior MED-EL patients.

This study assessed the subjective benefits of cochlear implants in senior patients wearing a MED-EL device. Data was compared with previous studies to assess the influence of recent speech-coding strategies and behind-the-ear speech processors; users of the behind-the-ear device and the body-worn device were also compared. An adaptation of the Nucleus 22-channel survey was sent to 141 cochlear implant users. The survey assesses perception of the device, communication benefits, handling the device and quality of life. Ninety-five surveys were returned. Results demonstrate that advanced technology provides greater benefit now than 9-13 years ago, notably: improved listening across noise, better understanding on the telephone and better speech perception. Users of the behind-the-ear device did not report more difficulties than body-worn device users but demonstrated better performance. Results show a positive outcome for cochlear implantation in a MED-EL seniors group.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2005

Long-term data on children implanted with a short electrode array.

Ossification and cochlear malformations are no longer seen as a contra-indication to cochlear implantation. The MED-EL COMBI 40+ short electrode was designed specifically for cases where major ossification has occurred, or where full insertion of an electrode may not be possible due to abnormal structure of the cochlea. This study investigates outcomes of 18 children implanted with the short electrode array. These children were assessed using the EARS test battery pre-operatively and at a number of intervals thereafter. Results show a consistent improvement in time on most tests; these results appear to be independent of aetiology. Data from these children were compared to 18 matched pairs implanted with the standard COMBI 40+ electrode array. The short electrode children do not perform as well as the standard children initially, but do tend to catch-up at later test intervals. Results indicate the benefit of using a short electrode when complete insertion of the standard electrode is not viable.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

Double posterior labyrinthotomy technique: results in three Med-El patients with common cavity.

HYPOTHESIS: This study reports on the use of the double posterior labyrinthotomy surgical technique and a custom-designed electrode to ensure better positioning of stimulating electrodes within the common cavity and thus demonstrate suitable outcomes in patients. BACKGROUND: Cochlear implantation has proven beneficial for numerous children with congenital malformations of the inner ear. Several studies show good auditory perception outcomes in children with common cavity. However, there have been risks involved with surgical techniques used in the actual implantation. These include possible aberrant facial nerve and the strong potential for a cerebrospinal fluid gusher. Improved surgical techniques and electrode design could allow for better electrode contact and avoid electrode placement in the internal auditory meatus. METHOD: The double posterior labyrinthotomy technique was carried out in three cases using a custom made MED-EL COMBI 40+ electrode. RESULTS: Surgery was carried out with no complications and is no more technically demanding than other standard surgical approaches. The speech processor program remains stable over time, and auditory perception results are similar to those obtained from children with no cochlear abnormalities. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate the success of the double posterior labyrinthotomy approach with modified cochlear implant, and this could be recommended as the procedure of choice in children presenting to an implant team with a common cavity.

Child, Preschool↗

PubMed2004

Cochlear implantation in children under the age of two--what do the outcomes show us?

OBJECTIVES: Literature that discusses the benefits of cochlear implantation (CI) in children under the age of two is limited. Previous concerns about surgical risk have been raised and addressed; however, actual benefit in terms of outcomes needs to be clearly defined. This study evaluates outcomes of children implanted under the age of two and compares them to children implanted at a later age. METHODS: Data were reviewed from the MED-EL International Children's study database. Thirty-seven children enrolled in the study have received cochlear implants before the age of two. Outcomes were assessed using the LiP and MTP tests and the MAIS and MUSS questionnaires pre-operatively and then at initial fitting, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after first fitting and then annually thereafter. RESULTS: Statistical analysis demonstrated that these children's scores improved significantly over time. Improvement was shown to occur at a quicker rate than for children implanted at an older age with the MTP and MUSS, but not with the LiP and the MAIS. Scores may be limited by sample size and the fact that children reached ceiling on some tests. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest a distinct advantage early implantation may have for severe to profoundly hearing impaired children. This may be particularly the case for skills necessary for development of receptive and expressive language skills.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Validation of three adaptations of the Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) to German, English and Polish.

The Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS) is a parent-report questionnaire for assessing auditory behaviour in aurally habilitated children. This study addressed the reliability and convergent validity of three different language versions of the MAIS: English, German, and Polish. In total, 114 parents (English, n = 27: Polish, n = 37; German, n = 50) completed the MAIS preoperatively and at 6 months after cochlear implantation. Internal reliability (Cronbach's alpha) ranged from 0.92 to 0.95 preoperatively, and from 0.87 to 0.93 at 6 months. Split-half reliability was at least 0.90 preoperatively, and ranged from 0.76 to 0.89 at 6 months. Corrected item-total correlation coefficients were significant (p < 0.05) for all items except for item 1, which showed poor correlations in the Polish version. Correlation of the MAIS with the Listening Progress Profile (LP), as a measure for convergent validity, yielded coefficients between 0.81 and 0.73 preoperatively, and between 0.79 and 0.61 at 6 months. These findings demonstrate high reliability and convergent validity of the three MAIS versions.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Analysis of ceiling effects occurring with speech recognition tests in adult cochlear-implanted patients.

This article presents a simple method of analysing speech test scores which are biased through ceiling effects. Eighty postlingually deafened adults implanted with a MED-EL COMBI 40/40+ cochlear implant (CI) were administered a numbers test and a sentence test at initial device activation and at 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 months thereafter. As a measure for speech recognition performance, the number of patients who scored at the 'ceiling level' (i.e. at least 95% correct answers) was counted at each test interval. Results showed a quick increase in this number soon after device activation as well as a continuous improvement over time (numbers test: 1 month: 51%; 6 months: 73%; 24 months: 88%; sentence test: 1 month: 33%; 6 months: 49%; 24 months: 64%). The new method allows for the detection of speech recognition progress in CI patient samples even at late test intervals, where improvement curves based on averaged scores are usually assuming a flat shape.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Recent results with the MED-EL COMBI 40+ cochlear implant and TEMPO+ behind-the-ear processor.

Cochlear implantation is a viable treatment for patients with severe to profound hearing loss. We report the results of speech perception tests (numbers, monosyllables, and sentence tests) achieved with MED-EL's COMBI40+ (C40+) cochlear implant after 12 months of use. These findings, which were taken from a larger German study, were similar to those of other studies of the C40+ implant. We also compared the differences in speech perception observed with the CIS PRO+ body-worn speech processor and the newer TEMPO+ behind-the-ear speech processor. Although these results were similar with respect to most of the measured parameters, the TEMPO+ processor had a distinct advantage during tests in noise.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Handling of the MED-EL TEMPO+ ear-level speech processor by paediatric cochlear implant users and their parents.

MED-EL launched the first ear-level speech processor offering a high-rate CIS+ strategy, the TEMPO+, in 1999. Studies have already demonstrated improved speech perception, sound quality and ability to enjoy music with the TEMPO+ due to the new CIS+ speech-coding strategy, when compared to the body-worn processor. In this study we evaluated responses from parents of young children about ease of handling and usage of the TEMPO+, and satisfaction with the TEMPO+ and its performance. Overall, 65 custom-designed questionnaires were analysed. The results showed that MED-EL cochlear implant users felt comfortable manipulating the dials and switches, changing the battery pack, using external sources of input and using the accessories provided. These results confirm the suitability of the TEMPO+ for infants and toddlers.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Preservation of residual hearing in children and post-lingually deafened adults after cochlear implantation: an initial study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the residual hearing of severely hearing-impaired children and adults could be preserved using the soft surgery approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This project employed a prospective study design. All testing and surgery took place in the Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland. Twenty-six patients (7 children and 19 post-lingually deafened adults) with residual hearing were assessed. Subjects were assessed using conventional pure-tone audiometry at least 1 month prior to surgery. Cochlear implant surgery with a Med-El Combi 40/40+ standard electrode array was conducted, using the soft surgery approach. Pure-tone audiometry thresholds were re-assessed at least 1 month after surgery. The researchers assessed change in auditory thresholds using pure-tone audiometry to determine preservation of residual hearing. RESULTS: Sixteen of 26 patients (62%) retained their residual hearing within 5 dB HL of pre-operative scores. Only 5 of 26 patients (19%) lost all measurable residual hearing after cochlear implantation. This suggests that surgeons are often able to preserve residual hearing during cochlear implant surgery using the soft surgery technique. CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of residual hearing is an important consideration in cochlear implantation in the light of changing selection criteria for cochlear implant candidates, and as younger children are receiving implants. This is important, as we do not know yet the long-term effects of inner ear damage due to traumatic insertions of electrodes. This finding suggests a good prognosis for future possibilities of re-implantation.

Adolescent↗