Cochlear Implant Outcomes in the Chinese-Speaking Adult Population: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study is to perform a systematic review of speech perception outcomes in the Chinese-speaking adult cochlear implant (CI) population. Databases Reviewed PubMed, EMbase, and Scopus. Methods A comprehensive English literature search was performed with MeSH search terms, keywords, and phrases. Literature written in a language other than English was not included. Full-text articles were screened by two blinded reviewers and adjudicated by a third. Relevant outcomes and demographic data were extracted. Qualitative summaries were performed of the demographics and assessment tools. Speech perception outcomes were assessed with quantitative measures. Results Forty-four studies (n = 467) notable for marked heterogeneity in speech perception assessment utilized and reporting of relevant patient demographics were included. Mean duration of deafness among studies reporting this metric was 10.27 years (range, 0.08–49; SD, 7.70; n = 250), with 80% of subjects reporting >5 years' duration of deafness and only 19 subjects (7.6%) with <1 year of deafness preimplantation. A summary of the most commonly used assessments is provided. Conclusion Within the English-language literature, there is marked heterogeneity and lack of standardization regarding speech perception outcomes, tests utilized, and reported patient demographics in the Chinese-speaking adult CI population. Most Chinese-speaking CI users for whom data were available had prolonged duration of deafness before implantation. This study may serve as an initial reference for providers counseling Chinese-language CI candidates and who may be interested in adopting these tests, while highlighting the need for continued efforts to measure speech perception outcomes after CI for tonal language speakers.