J Voice. 2012 Sep;26(5):669.e17-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2011.07.014. Epub 2011 Nov 13.

The effect of cochlear implantation on nasalance of speech in postlingually hearing-impaired adults.

Hassan SM¹, Malki KH, Mesallam TA, Farahat M, Bukhari M, Murry T.

Author information

1: Communication and Swallowing Disorders Unit (CSDU), ENT Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS:

Hypernasality is considered a prevalent speech abnormality that could significantly contribute to the unintelligibility of the hearing-impaired speakers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of cochlear implantation and the duration of hearing loss on nasalance of speech of a postlingually impaired group of Saudi adult patients.

STUDY DESIGN:

Retrospective study.

METHODS:

This study included 25 postlingually hearing-impaired patients who underwent cochlear implantation and 25 age-matched control subjects. Patients were divided into three groups according to the duration of hearing loss. The nasometric data of the hearing-impaired group were compared with the control group. Also, the preoperative values were compared with the postoperative values 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery.

RESULTS:

Significant differences were demonstrated between the preimplantation nasalance scores of the three subgroups and between the patients and control groups. There were statistically significant differences demonstrated between the pre- and the postimplantation nasalance values for the three groups of patients.

CONCLUSION:

Cochlear implantation appears to have significant effects on improving the nasalance of the speech of postlingually hearing-impaired adult patients. However, the degree of improvement might vary according to the duration of hearing loss the patients had preimplantation.