Cochlear implant failure: is an auditory brainstem implant the answer?

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the auditory rehabilitative results achieved in five patients with cochlear implants (CIs) who subsequently received, due to poor results, auditory brainstem implants (ABIs).

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Between April 1997 and March 2003, 37 patients (age range 14 months to 70 years) were fitted with ABIs in our ENT Department. Fourteen subjects had neurofibromatosis type 2 and 23 were non-tumor patients who had cochlea or cochlear nerve disease. Five subjects had previously been treated with a CI and received an ABI owing to the poor results achieved. One child had bilateral undiagnosed cochlear nerve aplasia and one was suffering from auditory neuropathy; three adults had total cochlear ossification.

RESULTS

The open-set sentence recognition score (auditory-only mode) 6-8 months after ABI activation ranged from 0% to 100% in adults. In 1 subject the speech-tracking score was 56 words/min with the ABI. The two children who had achieved no hearing ability with their CI were able to detect sounds and words as early as 3 months after activation of the ABI.

CONCLUSION

CI failure as a result of anatomical abnormalities can be remedied by an ABI.