Results and experiences with 55 cochlear implantations

INTRODUCTION: The etiology of deafness in deaf people is defects in the cochlea hair cells. Cochlear implant treatment gives deaf born and patients with acquired deafness the possibility to reestablish or obtain hearing by electric stimulation of the cochlear nerve. In this paper the results of treatment of 35 adults and 20 children are reported. METHOD: The candidates for cochlear implant treatment are extensively investigated before the decision is made to operate. The operative treatment takes place under general anaesthesia and the operative technique is outlined. In the treatment of the deaf, different types of implants and stimulation strategies have been used. The effect of treatment is considered by hearing test and evaluation of speech. RESULTS: Nine of the adults obtained a hearing quality that made using a telephone possible. Almost all adults can by the combination of cochlear implant and lip reading perform a normal conversation. The results in the deaf born children are obtained slowly as the deaf born have to develop hearing and speech from zero. All the treated children have improved possibilities of communication. DISCUSSION: Cochlear implant treatment of deaf people now seems well established both internationally and nationally in Denmark. Cochlear implant equipment has improved considerably throughout the past years and that it today is possible to establish hearing in deaf born or patients with acquired deafness can be considered as one of the greatest developments in otology, maybe the greatest.