[Long-term results of multi-channel stimulation of the cochlear nucleus with auditory brain stem prostheses]

Since 1992 11 subjects with bilateral neural deafness due to cerebellopontine angle tumors have been provided with a multichannel auditory brainstem implant. The long term follow-up varies between 12 and 48 months. 10 subjects experienced auditory sensations with various pitch during stimulation of several surface electrodes, 7 of them are still full time users. 1 patient died 18 months after implantation after having been using his device continuously and 1 died due to pneumonic emboly without having been stimulated. 2 subjects revealed uncomfortable side-effects such as motoric or somatosensoric stimulations several months after initial stimulation. 1 of them is not using the device any more. The presented long term results suggest, that deaf neurofibromatosis-patients can regain acoustic contact to the environment, enlarge their communication skills and improve their quality of life by using a multichannel auditory brainstem prosthesis.