Fitzpatrick, Sequin, Schramm, Chenier, Josee, and Armstrong (2009) reported results from their retrospective review of 124 patients who received cochlear implants (CI) at their facility (Ottawa, Canada) between 1993 and 2005. Of those, 31 adult patients were bimodal (use their cochlear implant and a hearing aid) and 93 adults were identified as using their CI only. All 124 patients had full electrode insertion and were unilaterally implanted with either Nucleus or Clarion devices.
Twenty-four (24) of the 31 bimodal users completed a questionnaire that revealed 15 of the 24 used their hearing aid (on the non-implanted side) more than 50 percent of the time. Three (3) of the 24 reported bimodal use less than 25 percent of the time and five patients stopped using bimodal amplification (but kept using their CI) within six months of CI implantation. In all, there were 72 adults with usable hearing (defined as having a pure tone average of 110 dB or better) and of the 72, about 30 percent or less used bimodal stimulation on a regular basis.
The authors noted that the decision to pursue bimodal amplification may be impacted by several factors such as cost, aesthetics, comfort, the patients' previous experience with hearing aids and the additional time involved to fit both devices. Further, a large number of patients who previously wore hearing aids in the non-CI ear immediately (or very quickly) stopped wearing the hearing aid in the non-CI ear after surgery, despite the demonstrated ability to use a hearing aid in that ear. The reasons these patients discontinued use of their hearing aids is essentially unknown.
For More Information, References and Recommendations:
Beck, DL. (2008): Cochlear Implant Right Ear Advantage?
Beck, DL. (2008): Revision Cochlear Implant Surgery.
Beck, DL. (2009): Incomplete Cochlear Implant Electrode Extraction.
Fitzpatrick EM, Sequin C, Schramm D, Chenier, Josee, and Armstrong, S. (2009) Users' Experience of a Cochlear Implant Combined With a hearing Aid. International Journal of Audiology 48:172-182.