Cognitive processing speed improvement after cochlear implantation.

Background: Untreated hearing loss has an effect on cognition. It is hypothesized that the additional processing required to compensate for the sensory loss affects the cognitive resources available for other tasks and that this could be mitigated by a hearing device.

Methods: The impact on cognition of cochlear implants (CIs) was tested in 100 subjects, ≥60 years old, with bilateral moderately-severe to profound post linguistic deafness using hearing aids.

Minimum intraoperative testing battery for cochlear implantation: the international practice trend.

Purpose: In cochlear implantation (CI) surgery, there are a wide variety of intraoperative tests available. However, no clear guide exists on which tests must be performed as the minimum intraoperative testing battery. Toward this end, we studied the usage patterns, recommendations, and attitudes of practitioners toward intraoperative testing.

Using Pupillometry to Evaluate Balance in Patients Implanted with a Cochleo-Vestibular Implant.

Maintaining balance comes naturally to healthy people. In subjects with vestibulopathy, even when compensated, and especially if it is bilateral, maintaining balance requires cognitive effort. Pupillometry is an established method of quantifying cognitive effort.

International Consensus Statements on Intraoperative Testing for Cochlear Implantation Surgery.

Objectives: A wide variety of intraoperative tests are available in cochlear implantation. However, no consensus exists on which tests constitute the minimum necessary battery. We assembled an international panel of clinical experts to develop, refine, and vote upon a set of core consensus statements.

Strategies for the implementation of the living guidelines for cochlear implantation in adults.

Introduction: Clinical guidelines for cochlear implants (CI) exist in several countries, however, they lack consistency and often do not encompass the full user journey. This study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators for implementing global Living Guidelines for cochlear implantation in adults with severe, profound or moderate sloping to profound sensorineural hearing loss (SPSNHL) as well as identify guideline implementation (GI) tools that may support uptake.

Methods: A convenience sample of Task Force members were recruited for semi-structured interviews.

Stimulation Crosstalk Between Cochlear And Vestibular Spaces During Cochlear Electrical Stimulation.

Objectives: Possible beneficial "crosstalk" during cochlear implant stimulation on otolith end organs has been hypothesized. The aim of this case-control study is to analyze the effect of electrical cochlear stimulation on the vestibule (otolith end-organ), when using a cochleo-vestibular implant, comparing vestibular stimulation (VI) and cochlear stimulation (CI).

Methods: Four patients with bilateral vestibulopathy were included.

Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Vestibular Disorders.

Vestibular medicine "embraces a wide approach to the potential causes of vestibular symptoms, acknowledging that vertigo, dizziness, and unsteadiness are non-specific symptoms that may arise from a broad spectrum of disorders, spanning from the inner ear to the brainstem, cerebellum and supratentorial cerebral networks, to many disorders beyond these structures" [...

COVID-19 era: Hearing handicaps behind face mask use in hearing aid users.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the effect on speech perception and lack of hearing devices gain with surgical masks worn in hearing aid users.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled consecutive patients between November 2020 and February 2021 in a tertiary care medical center from Spain. Fifty-five subjects have been included, 10 as control group, with normal hearing, and 45 patients with sensory-neural hearing loss and hearing aid users, ranging in age between 31 and 83 years old, and were recruited randomized in 4 months.

Dynamic Visual Acuity Results in Otolith Electrical Stimulation in Bilateral Vestibular Dysfunction.

(1) Background. Patients with bilateral vestibular disease (BVD) experience oscillopsia with a detriment to visual acuity (VA). This VA is driven mainly by the VOR that has two components: rotational and translational.

Assessing the Placement of the Cochlear Slim Perimodiolar Electrode Array by Trans Impedance Matrix Analysis: A Temporal Bone Study.

Unlabelled: New cochlear implant (CI) electrode arrays provide softer insertion dynamics; however, due to their high flexibility, the possibilities of fold-overs or intraoperative displacements must be taken into account. The position of each individual electrode can only be determined by using high-resolution computed tomography or cone-beam CT. The trans-impedance matrix test (TIM) is an electrophysiological method based on electric field imaging that can provide images of electrode position and electrode folding.

A phenomenological computational model of the evoked action potential fitted to human cochlear implant responses.

There is a growing interest in biomedical engineering in developing procedures that provide accurate simulations of the neural response to electrical stimulus produced by implants. Moreover, recent research focuses on models that take into account individual patient characteristics. We present a phenomenological computational model that is customized with the patient's data provided by the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) for simulating the neural response to electrical stimulus produced by the electrodes of cochlear implants (CIs).

Tinnitus suppression with electrical stimulation in adults: long-term follow-up.

Objectives: To investigate the long-term effects of cochlear implants as a treatment for patients with severe to profound neurosensory loss associated with severe tinnitus.

Methods: Prospective study in 17 adult patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss associated with severe tinnitus, indicated with a Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score ≥ 58%, and hyperacusis. Measures were made on hearing, tinnitus, hyperacusis and quality of life up to 5 years after activation of the sound processor of the cochlear implant.

Development and Content Validity of the Bilateral Vestibulopathy Questionnaire.

Background: To date, the burden and severity of the full spectrum of bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) symptoms has not yet been measured in a standardized manner. Since therapeutic interventions aiming to improve BVP symptoms are emerging, the need for a new standardized assessment tool that encompasses the specific aspects of BVP arises. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a multi-item Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) that captures the clinically important symptoms of BVP and assesses its impact on daily life.

[Macrolides as a possible cause of hearing loss in childhood].

Introduction: Idiopathic sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a relatively frequent entity in the adult population with unk nown cause in most cases. There are few studies in pediatric age and its diagnosis and management are a challenge for health professionals.

Objective: To relate macrolide therapy as a causal agent of sudden hearing loss in pediatric patients.

Evaluation of a Transimpedance Matrix Algorithm to Detect Anomalous Cochlear Implant Electrode Position.

Introduction: Transimpedance measurements from cochlear implant electrodes have the potential to identify anomalous electrode array placement, such as tip fold-over (TFO) or fold-back, basal electrode kinking, or buckling. Analysing transimpedance may thus replace intraoperative or post-operative radiological imaging to detect any potential misplacements. A transimpedance algorithm was previously developed to detect deviations from a normal electrode position with the aim of intraoperatively detecting TFO.

Cochlear Implants in Single-Sided Deafness. Comparison Between Children and Adult Populations With Post-lingually Acquired Severe to Profound Hearing Loss.

To determine audiological and clinical results of cochlear implantation (CI) comparing two populations with single-sided deafness (SSD): post-lingually deaf children between 6 and 12 years of age, and post-lingually deaf adults, in order to evaluate the effect of CI in different age groups. Retrospective case review. Tertiary clinic.

Transcutaneous Osseo-integrated Auditory Devices: Analysis of Two Different Implants in Adults With Different Audiological Inclusion Criteria.

Objective: To determine and compare audiological and speech/language discrimination results in patients with osteo-integrated auditory devices, by comparing two different systems including different audiological indications in adult population.

Study Design: Descriptive and analytic, cross-sectional, cohort, and retrospective case review.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Analysis of Neural Interface When Using Modiolar Electrode Stimulation. Radiological Evaluation, Trans-Impedance Matrix Analysis and Effect on Listening Effort in Cochlear Implantation.

Background: The proximity of the electrode to the modiolar wall may be of interest to investigate the effect of pitch discrimination. This research establishes the relation between these factors and whether perimodiolar positions may provide benefits regarding improved electrode discrimination.

Methods: A prospective randomized study including 24 post-lingual deaf adults was performed.

Differences in Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Responses by Using Cochlear Implant and Otolith Organ Direct Stimulation.

Several studies have demonstrated the possibility to obtain vestibular potentials elicited with electrical stimulation from cochlear and vestibular implants. The objective of this study is to analyze the vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) obtained from patients implanted with cochlear and vestibulo-cochlear implant. We compared two groups: in the first group, four cochlear implant (CI) recipients with present acoustic cVEMPs before CI surgery were included.

The Superiority of the Otolith System.

Background: The peripheral vestibular end organ is considered to consist of semi-circular canals (SCC) for detection of angular accelerations and the otoliths for detection of linear accelerations. However, otoliths being phylogenetically the oldest part of the vestibular sensory organs are involved in detection of all motions.

Summary: This study elaborates on this property of the otolith organ, as this concept can be of importance for the currently designed vestibular implant devices.

Chronic Electrical Stimulation of the Otolith Organ: Preliminary Results in Humans with Bilateral Vestibulopathy and Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Introduction: Bilateral vestibulopathy is an important cause of imbalance that is misdiagnosed. The clinical management of patients with bilateral vestibular loss remains difficult as there is no clear evidence for an effective treatment. In this paper, we try to analyze the effect of chronic electrical stimulation and adaptation to electrical stimulation of the vestibular system in humans when stimulating the otolith organ with a constant pulse train to mitigate imbalance due to bilateral vestibular dysfunction (BVD).

Intraoperative Intracochlear Electrocochleography and Residual Hearing Preservation Outcomes When Using Two Types of Slim Electrode Arrays in Cochlear Implantation.

Objectives: To report residual hearing preservation outcomes in patients with low frequency hearing, after cochlear implant (CI) electrode insertion with two types of electrode arrays: one straight and other perimodiolar, when using intraoperative intracochlear electrocochleography (ECochG) during (CI) electrode insertion.

Study Design: Prospective, randomized study.

Setting: Tertiary referral otology center.

Evaluation of Intracochlear Position of a Slim Modiolar Electrode Array, by Using Different Radiological Analyses.

Introduction: The radiological analysis following a cochlear implantation offers insight into the audiological outcomes of cochlear implant recipients. The wrapping factor (WF) is the most common radiological analysis measuring the modiolar position and depth of insertion of an electrode array. New measurements like the intracochlear position index (ICPI) or the homogeneity factor (HF) can offer more accurate information regarding the electrode's intracochlear position.

Single-sided deafness and cochlear implantation in congenital and acquired hearing loss in children.

Objective: To determine the audiological and clinical results of cochlear implantation in children below the age of 12 years old with congenital and acquired single-sided deafness.

Design: Observational, descriptive, transversal study.

Main Outcome Measures: Speech reception thresholds, Cortical responses, Auditory Lateralization Test and SSQ questionnaire.

One-Year Results for Patients with Unilateral Hearing Loss and Accompanying Severe Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Treated with a Cochlear Implant.

Objective: To show that patients with unilateral hearing loss (UHL), with one ear fulfilling cochlear implant (CI) indication criteria, and an additional severe tinnitus handicap can be treated effectively with a CI.

Method: A prospective multi-centre study was conducted in five Spanish centres. Sixteen adult patients with UHL and a mean Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) score of at least 58 were implanted.