RELATION BETWEEN VESTIBULAR FUNCTION AND SPEECH RECOGNITION IN POSTLINGUALLY DEAFENED ADULTS WITH COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION

Thirty-one postlingually deafened adults with 22-channel cochlear impl ant were evaluated preoperatively using vestibular function tests, the caloric test and stabilometry. The results of caloric response were c lassified into two diagnostic groups: normo- or hyporeflexia and arefl exia. Stabilometric recordings were made using a computerized static p osturographic platform. Between the two categories of caloric response , there was a significant difference in consonant recognition, but the recognition of vowels showed no significant difference. The results o f the distance of body sway in stabilometry, but not of the area, corr elated to the results of consonant recognition in speech perception te sts. The degree of residual vestibular function seems to be one of the indicators influencing postoperative speech recognition by cochlear i mplant patients.