Cochlear implantation: is hearing preservation necessary in severe to profound XXXX ?

@entity1 @entity393
OBJECTIVES: The goal of the cochlear implant surgery is to place the electrode array with minimal damage to preserve the residual hearing. Round-window insertion can be performed in a manner that is potentially less traumatic than the standard cochleostomy. The purpose of the study was to investigate audiological results of the round-window approach using standard electrode. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed to evaluate our experience in @entity1 with implanted through round window between January 2007 and March 2009. Sixty @entity1 had undergone cochlear implant surgery through the round window with full insertion of a standard electrode array. Preoperative and postoperative pure-tone thresholds were measured for implanted ears in the range of 250 to 4000 Hz. RESULTS: Within these 60 cases, 31 @entity1 had been evaluated. The population comprised 16 @entity1 and 15 @entity1 . The mean age was 15.96 years (range, 4-64 years). Follow-up times ranged from 6 to 26 months. Preservation of low-frequency hearing (250 and 500 Hz) was achieved in 27 (87%) of 31 @entity1 . Complete hearing preservation (all frequencies) was accomplished in 11 @entity1 (35.48%). No hearing could be determined postoperatively in 4 @entity1 (12.9%), having preoperative thresholds of 120 dB at 250, 500, and 1000 Hz. CONCLUSIONS: Round-window approach has been widely used for preservation of residual hearing. In our @entity1 with severe to profound @entity393 , we preserved residual hearing. Although the residual hearing cannot be sufficient for using additional acoustic stimulation, the preserved residual hearing means minimal damage and a more convenient cochlea, so this is promising for future development.
