[Use of the auditory brainstem neuroprosthesis in the Czech Republic]

Auditory brainstem implant (ABI) is an electroprosthetic device enabling sound sensations in deaf persons with a bilateral lesion of auditory nerves. Stimulation of auditory nuclei in the floor of the IVth ventricle is realized by an electrode array introduced during surgery in the lateral recess of the IVth ventricle.

The main indication group for ABI is represented by patients with neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) suffering from bilateral vestibular schwannomas. During surgery aimed at tumour removal, auditory nerve function and integrity are almost always destroyed, therefore, an ABI can be introduced as an one stage procedure. Implantees use the device mainly as the aid in lipreading, only very rarely they can comprehend speech without visual cues. Auditory brainstem implant programme has been introduced in the Czech Republic in the year 1999. It was the very first ABI surgery in the Central Europe. Since that time, 5 patients had received the auditory brainstem implant, from which the first four use the device for a longer time.

The last operated patient has not been activated yet. It may be said, that ABI represents a benefit to all our patients, in one implanted this benefit is significant, since he can understand speech without lipreading, the other implantees use the device as an aid in lipreading. In one female patient, the device benefit is severely limited by a motoric handicap after partial cerebellar resection during surgery. Nevertheless, she uses the implant on a daily basis, but contact with her is limited and difficult.