Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 16, 2026
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Impedance Monitoring for Cochlear Implant Surgery
Published on: August 4, 2023
The Relationship Between Cochleovestibular Orientation, Age, and Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Implications for
Eric J Formeister1, Adam P Campbell1, Baishakhi Choudhury1
1Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, North Carolina, USA.
Objectives:
To determine if spatial orientation of the cochlea within the temporal bone is related to age or sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and describe the implications for cochlear implantation.
Methods:
Five angles of cochlear orientation were determined from computed tomography (CT) imaging of the temporal bones in adults with (n = 55) and without (n = 27) sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and children with (n = 45) and without (n = 12) SNHL: facial recess versus basal turn, posterior semicircular canal versus basal turn, round window versus basal turn (axial view), round window versus basal turn (coronal view), and the cochlear axis versus the mastoid facial nerve.
Results:
All angles showed substantial variation between subjects and between ears. The angles between the round window and basal turn (coronal view) and the posterior semicircular canal and basal turn were significantly correlated with age for all subjects with SNHL (r = 0.22, P = .002 and r = 0.15, P = .03, respectively). Patients with SNHL had significantly more acute angles (46.6° vs 55.8°) between the round window versus basal turn (axial orientation) compared to controls (P < .001).
Conclusions:
Cochlear orientation within the temporal bone changes with age and the degree of SNHL. These results suggest that the approach to the round window for electrode insertion might differ between children and adults.
