Cochelar implants in patients with long term unilaterally perilingual deafness

Introduction Many years after the first impantation of a cochlear implant, this procedure is still rarely used in adults with perilingual deafness.

Case A 55-year-old patient presents with acute hearing loss in his left ear. After an right ear infection at age 3, he is already suffering from deafness on the right side. A hearing aid has never been prescribed. Despite spontaneous return of hearing in the left ear, the patient asked for a cochlear implant in the right ear out of fear for a recurring loss of hearing on the left side.

Audiologic diagnostics showed no ABR in BERA, no CAP in EChochG and only little dynamics in the promontorium stimulation testing. The left ear presented normal hearing. Cranial MR and CT of the petrosal bone showed no pathological findings.

After providing comprehensive information about the procedure, the implantation of the CI was performed in January 2016. At first the patient described barely any sound perception. The procedure was followed by intensive rehabilitation to improve directional and speech hearing. Currently he achieves 5 %  at 65dB and 25 %  at 75dB in the Freiburg Monosyllabic. In the Oldenburg sentence test he understands 15 %  at 65dB. The direction of a sound is correctly recognized with a rate of 62 % . The patient was fully satisfied with his decision at all times.

Discussion Adults with perilingual deafness and high compliance can benefit from cochlear implants and gain understanding of language as well as a good directional hearing. Therefore, in these cases, the implantation of a cochlear implant should always be considered.

Poster-PDF A-1645.pdf

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2021