Pre-, per- and postoperative factors affecting performance of postlinguistically deaf adults using cochlear implants: a new conceptual model over time.

Objective: To test the influence of multiple factors on cochlear implant (CI) speech performance in quiet and in noise for postlinguistically deaf adults, and to design a model of predicted auditory performance with a CI as a function of the significant factors.

Study Design: Retrospective multi-centre study.

Methods: Data from 2251 patients implanted since 2003 in 15 international centres were collected.

Factors affecting auditory performance of postlinguistically deaf adults using cochlear implants: an update with 2251 patients.

Objective: To update a 15-year-old study of 800 postlinguistically deaf adult patients showing how duration of severe to profound hearing loss, age at cochlear implantation (CI), age at onset of severe to profound hearing loss, etiology and CI experience affected CI outcome.

Study Design: Retrospective multicenter study.

Methods: Data from 2251 adult patients implanted since 2003 in 15 international centers were collected and speech scores in quiet were converted to percentile ranks to remove differences between centers.

Effect of surgical technique on electrode impedance after cochlear implantation.

Objectives: We compare the evolution of electrode impedance values (IVs) following either conventional cochlear implantation or implantation by the soft surgery (SS) technique.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 20 consecutive adult patients who underwent implantation with the Nucleus CA 24 device between 2004 and 2007. Five patients with preoperative residual hearing at the frequencies 256, 512, and 1,024 Hz underwent implantation by an SS cochlear implantation technique (SS group), and the 15 other patients underwent a conventional implantation technique (conventional cochleostomy [CC] group).

Educational and employment achievements in prelingually deaf children who receive cochlear implants.

Objective: To investigate the educational and employment achievements of prelingually deaf children who undergo cochlear implantation.

Design: Prospective study. Data were examined within groups defined by current age and additional disabilities.

Impact of early cochlear implantation on the linguistic development of the deaf child.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine prognostic factors of cochlear implantation and to evaluate the impact of early implantation on linguistic development in deaf children.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Reliability and complications of 500 consecutive cochlear implantations.

Objectives: To assess device failures as well as early postoperative, late postoperative, and medical complications occurring after cochlear implantation and to discuss their causes and treatments.

Study Design: Retrospective study of 500 consecutive cochlear implantations.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Ten-year follow-up of a consecutive series of children with multichannel cochlear implants.

Objectives: To assess a group of children who consecutively received implants more than 10 years after implantation with regard to speech perception, speech intelligibility, receptive language level, and academic/occupational status.

Study Design: A prospective longitudinal study.

Setting: Pediatric referral center for cochlear implantation.

Molecular epidemiology of DFNB1 deafness in France.

Background: Mutations in the GJB2 gene have been established as a major cause of inherited non syndromic deafness in different populations. A high number of sequence variations have been described in the GJB2 gene and the associated pathogenic effects are not always clearly established. The prevalence of a number of mutations is known to be population specific, and therefore population specific testing should be a prerequisite step when molecular diagnosis is offered.