Cognitive Measures and Electrocochleography Team Up

A recent study investigated the predictive capacity of the electrocochleography total response (ECochG-TR) in patient speech perception outcomes following cochlear implantation (Walia et al, 2022). Previous studies identify factors such as duration of hearing loss, age of implantation, and electrode positioning account for 25 percent of the variability in speech in perception in quiet.

The current study aimed to validate the ECochG-TR as a positive predictor and to further investigate cochlear implant users’ performance with speech-in–noise. Results show predictive value in ECochG-TR measures, but the addition of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) with ECochG-TR accounted for 60 percent of the variability in speech–in–noise measures using multivariate modeling analysis.

According to the authors, this is the first study to examine a global measure of cognitive function as a possible predictive factor of speech perception in noise performance post implantation. The addition of cognitive screening tools in the audiologist evaluation is gaining more attention, particularly after a Lancet identified adult-onset hearing loss as a modifiable health risk for preventing dementia (Livingston et al, 2020). 

References

Livingston G, Huntley J, Sommerlad A, et al. (2020) Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2020 report of the Lancet Commission. The Lancet 396(10248):413–446.

Walia A, Shew MA, Kallogjeri D, et al. (2022). Electrocochleography and cognition are important predictors of speech perception outcomes in noise for cochlear implant recipients. Sci Rep 12(1):3083.