Functional outcomes of cochlear implantation in patients with malformed inner ear

OBJECTIVE The aim was to explore the clinical experiences and access the auditory performance and speech intelligibility of cochlear implantation in patients with inner ear malformations. METHODS Among 700 patients who received multi-channel cochlear implantation from 1997 to 2007 in Beijing Tongren Hospital, 108 patients were diagnosed with malformed inner ear. A retrospective study was performed about the surgical characteristics and the mapping characteristics after implantation. The long term follow-up of the rehabilitative efficacy will also be presented. RESULTS ①All patients restituted auditory after operation. ②After the regular rehabilitation, the long term follow-up of the auditory performance and speech intelligibility were very positive. Everyone has shown improved listening and communication skills evaluated by Categories of Auditory Performance and Speech Intelligibility Rating. ③Most of the children are studying or working and are actively involved in their local communities. CONCLUSION The cochlear implantation can be performed safely in patients with malformed inner ear. The results suggest that cochlear implantation could also provides long-term benefits to those malformed inner ear cases.