Update on long-term results with auditory brainstem implants in NF2 patients

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Audiology
• Medical Engineering

Background:

• Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) often leads to bilateral vestibular schwannomas, necessitating alternative hearing rehabilitation strategies.
• Auditory brainstem implantation (ABI) is a crucial option for NF2 patients with cochlear nerve damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term efficacy and outcomes of auditory brainstem implants (ABI) in patients diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2).
• To analyze audiological performance and speech perception trends in NF2 patients using ABI over an extended follow-up period.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective chart review of ten neurofibromatosis type 2 patients who received auditory brainstem implants (ABI) at the Melbourne Cochlear Implant Clinic since 1995.
• Inclusion of patients with an average follow-up of five years, comparing outcomes between N22 and N24 ABI devices.

Main Results:

• While N24 ABI recipients initially showed poorer performance at one year, both N22 and N24 groups achieved comparable long-term results.
• Patients reported part-time device usage (4-5 hours/day), often avoiding noisy environments.
• Speech perception scores demonstrated continued improvement beyond the first year post-implantation.

Conclusions:

• Auditory brainstem implantation (ABI) is a safe and beneficial tool for aural rehabilitation in neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) patients.
• Gradual improvement in audiological performance, particularly speech perception, is a key characteristic of long-term ABI use in this population.