Multichannel (Ineraid) cochlear implant update

From April 1984 to May 1991, 49 profoundly deaf patients received implantation of the Ineraid multichannel cochlear implant at the University of Utah. The auditory results of 48 patients indicated improvement in mean pure-tone performance to 500 Hz (32.9 +/- 10.1 dB), 1000 Hz (27.1 +/- 10.0 dB), and 2000 Hz (30.1 +/- 9.8 dB). This group of patients had mean performances of 61.2% on auditory-only environmental sounds (Minimum Auditory Capabilities [MAC] battery), 48.8% on auditory-only CID sentences, and 95.5% on auditory-plus-visual CID sentences. The percutaneous pedestal has been well-tolerated. Changes in the surgical skin incisions have been made. A home use speech therapy program has been developed on VHS tapes.