Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare pre- and post-operative word recognition scores (WRSs) for the adult Spanish-speaking population and to describe their cochlear implant (CI) performance trajectory.
Methods: A retrospective chart review (
n = 115) was completed
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Objectives: The aims of this study were to compare pre- and post-operative word recognition scores (WRSs) for the adult Spanish-speaking population and to describe their cochlear implant (CI) performance trajectory.
Methods: A retrospective chart review (
n = 115) was completed for Spanish-speaking post-lingually deafened adults who underwent a traditional CI evaluation and subsequent surgery between 2018 and 2023. Pre- and post-CI (3, 6, 12-month) Spanish Bisyllable WRSs and CI datalogging (hours per day) were collected for 66 subjects who met inclusion. Patients were, on average, 61.4 years of age (
SD = 14.9) at the time of their first CI, and all were Hispanic and White (100%).
Results: The outcomes of the 66 subjects who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Spanish Bisyllable WRSs improved at all post-CI test intervals, though the mean change between intervals showed a decreasing trend over time, with a plateau in WRSs occurring by 6 months post-CI. Time was a significant predictor of increased post-CI WRSs at 6 months (
p = 0.004) and 12 months (
p < 0.001). Sex, the implanted ear, electrode type, CI manufacturer, and datalogging hours did not significantly predict Bisyllable WRSs.
Conclusions: This study used the largest cohort dataset to date to describe pre-and post-CI WRSs for Spanish-speaking adults. The post-CI performance trajectory is similar in Spanish-speaking CI recipients compared to English-speaking cohorts. This study is fundamental in providing evidence-based outcomes for Spanish-speaking CI recipients and will assist clinicians with pre-CI counseling based on realistic expectations.
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