[Cochlear implants]

Cochlear implantation is a method of utmost importance recently employed in ear surgery. It makes even speech understanding possible with electrical stimulation of the inner ear in case of bilateral total deafness of cochlear origin. The authors have performed cochlear implantation for 10 years at the Ear-Nose and Throat Clinic of Semmelweis University. Since 1985 different implantation techniques have been used in case of 58 patients, both adults and children. The authors give account of of technical details, rapidly changing selection criteria and the call attention to the problems of peri- and postoperative period and rehabilitation, on they basis of their own results. Importance of team-work of the ear-surgeon, audiologist, psychologist, physicist and speech-therapist is emphasized, because success of the operation is based on proper selection, skillful operating techniques and postoperative rehabilitation, as well.