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Enhanced Cochlear Coverage and Hearing Preservation in High-Frequency Hearing Loss via Electric Acoustic Stimulation with Longer Electrode
Published on: October 11, 2024
Neurofibromatosis 2: hearing restoration options
Tatiana Alves Monteiro1, Maria Valeria Schmidt Goffi-Gomez, Robinson Koji Tsuji
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Medical School of the University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil. vitatimonteiro@ig.com.br
Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
|October 31, 2012
Summary
Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) patients can regain hearing with cochlear implants (CI) or auditory brainstem implants (ABI). ABI showed better results in this study, especially when the cochlear nerve is not preserved.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Otolaryngology
- Genetics
Background:
- Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) is a genetic disorder predominantly causing hearing loss.
- Auditory restoration in NF2 patients can be achieved through cochlear implants (CI) or auditory brainstem implants (ABI).
Observation:
- This study prospectively evaluated four NF2 patients undergoing tumor resection followed by CI or ABI implantation.
- Auditory outcomes were assessed long-term, with CI at 12 months and ABI at 48 months.
Findings:
- All patients demonstrated improved hearing thresholds post-implantation.
- The single cochlear implant (CI) patient had limited speech perception, while three auditory brainstem implant (ABI) patients showed significant vowel and sentence discrimination.
- Two out of three ABI patients achieved high closed-set sentence recognition.
Implications:
- The choice between CI and ABI in NF2 patients depends critically on cochlear nerve preservation during surgery.
- While literature suggests CI offers better outcomes with nerve preservation, ABI is recommended when the nerve is compromised, as indicated by these findings.
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