Low-Frequency Hearing Preservation With Long Electrode Arrays: Inclusion of Unaided Hearing Threshold Assessment in the Postoperative Test Battery.

Purpose The goal of this work was to evaluate the low-frequency hearing preservation of long electrode array cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Method Twenty-five participants presented with an unaided hearing threshold of ≤ 80 dB HL at 125 Hz pre-operatively in the ear to be implanted. Participants were implanted with a long (31.5-mm) electrode array. The unaided hearing threshold at 125 Hz was compared between the preoperative and postoperative intervals (i.e., initial CI activation, and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after activation). Results Eight participants maintained an unaided hearing threshold of ≤ 80 dB HL at 125 Hz postoperatively. The majority (n = 5) demonstrated aidable low-frequency hearing at initial activation, whereas 3 other participants experienced an improvement in unaided low-frequency hearing thresholds at subsequent intervals. Conclusions CI recipients can retain residual hearing sensitivity with fully inserted long electrode arrays, and low-frequency hearing thresholds may improve during the postoperative period. Therefore, unaided hearing thresholds obtained within the initial weeks after surgery may not reflect later hearing sensitivity. Routine measurement of postoperative unaided hearing thresholds-even for patients who did not demonstrate aidable hearing thresholds initially after cochlear implantation-will identify CI recipients who may benefit from electric-acoustic stimulation. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11356637.

[The Königsteiner Empfehlung of 2012 - essential alterations and modifications]. / Die Königsteiner Empfehlung von 2012 - Wesentliche Neuerungen und Änderungen.

BACKGROUND: Since 1974, the recommendation for assessment of hearing impairment caused by noise - formerly known as "Königsteiner Merkblatt" (now: "Königsteiner Empfehlung") - has been representing the state of the art for the assessment of the occupational disease BK-No. 2301. It was updated several times, the last time in 2012. It provides a summary of the current medical knowledge. A new measurement for the entire working life - the Effective Noise Dose by Liedtke - was introduced. Otoacoustic emissions (OAE) are now the crucial tests in order to detect a hair cell dysfunction. As from now the tinnitus has to be put under a more comprehensive examination. On the strength of post experience the previous speech audiometry (Freiburger Test) is reliable, it was retrained. In future the indication for hearing aids will be oriented towards the aid guidelines of the legal health insurance. The questionnaire for the expert opinion was revised and the fee was adapted.