Early Hearing Outcomes and Audiological Experiences With a Novel Fully Implanted Cochlear Implant.

Abstract

Objective: To review audiological experiences and early hearing outcomes from the early feasibility study of a fully implanted cochlear implant.

Study design: Prospective cohort.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

Patient: Three adults (two-male, one female) with bilateral sensorineural hearing loss.

Interventions: Implantation with a fully implanted cochlear implant as part of an early feasibility study.

Outcomes: Postoperative unaided and aided pure-tone audiometry, tympanometry, mapping parameters, speech perception, battery life, and quality-of-life assessment.

Results: All patients in the early feasibility study of this fully implanted cochlear implant now use their devices regularly. Preoperative and postoperative audiometric measurements showed that their residual hearing in the implanted ear decreased slightly after surgery but was preserved. All patients had type A tympanograms after their transient middle ear effusion resolved. Electrical stimulation levels were comparable to those routinely used in traditional cochlear implants. Two of the three patients use a hearing aid in the implanted ear for additional gain and show significant improvement in speech perception since implantation. Average battery life before recharging is 4 days. All patients are regular users with two showing improvement in quality-of-life metrics after receiving the fully implanted cochlear implant.

Conclusion: The patient experience and hearing outcomes from the early feasibility study of a novel fully implanted cochlear implant are detailed in this study and demonstrate ease of operation and daily use by all participants. All patients obtained hearing, but two of three use a hearing aid with their device to overcome unanticipated implant circuitry noise and achieve improved speech perception scores. Current work is focused on reducing this system noise to allow for the device to be used as intended, without a hearing aid.