Iatrogenic Phenol Injury Causing Facial Paralysis With Tympanic Membrane and Ossicular Necrosis.

Objective: To describe a serious iatrogenic injury and propose means of reducing the risk of its reoccurrence.

Patients: A 21-year-old man who suffered facial paralysis, complete necrosis of the tympanic membrane, and ossicular discontinuity because of chemical burn from accidental application of copious amounts of topical anesthetic phenol into the ear.

Interventions: Conservative management of facial paralysis and delayed reconstruction of the tympanic membrane and ossicular chain.

Neuroimaging with near-infrared spectroscopy demonstrates speech-evoked activity in the auditory cortex of deaf children following cochlear implantation.

Cochlear implants (CI) are commonly used to treat deafness in young children. While many factors influence the ability of a deaf child who is hearing through a CI to develop speech and language skills, an important factor is that the CI has to stimulate the auditory cortex. Obtaining behavioral measurements from young children with CIs can often be unreliable.