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The cochlear implant as a tinnitus treatment
Héctor Vallés-Varela1, Juan Royo-López, Luis Carmen-Sampériz
1Servicio de Otorrinolaringología, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa, Zaragoza, España. hvalles@salud.aragon.es
Acta Otorrinolaringologica Espanola
|March 20, 2013
Summary
Unilateral cochlear implantation significantly improved tinnitus in most patients with profound hearing loss. Tinnitus reduction was observed in both the implanted (ipsilateral) and non-implanted (contralateral) ears.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Audiology
Background:
- Tinnitus is a common symptom in individuals with cochlear pathology.
- Profound hearing loss often co-occurs with tinnitus, impacting quality of life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of unilateral cochlear implantation on tinnitus in patients with profound hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal, retrospective study involving 20 patients who received a Nucleus® CI24RE Contour Advance™ electrode for unilateral cochlear implantation.
- Tinnitus was evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively before surgery and at 6 and 12 months post-surgery, with the device both active and inactive.
Main Results:
- Tinnitus improvement or disappearance occurred in the ipsilateral ear in 65% of patients when the cochlear implant was active.
- Tinnitus improved in the contralateral ear in 50% of patients when the implant was active.
- New tinnitus developed in the ipsilateral ear in 10% of patients.
Conclusions:
- Unilateral cochlear implantation is an effective treatment for reducing tinnitus in patients with profound hearing loss and bilateral tinnitus.
- Significant tinnitus improvement was noted in both the ipsilateral and contralateral ears following implantation.
