Author(s)
Henryk Skarzynski, MD, PhD, Prof
Artur Lorens MD, PhD
Beata Dziendziel, MSc
Piotr H. Skarzynski, MSc, MD, PhD
Affiliation(s)
Abstract:
Objective: The aim of the study is to present pediatric cases with normal hearing in the frequencies 125– 1500 Hz and severe-to-profound hearing loss in frequencies above 1500 Hz. Cochlear implantation was conducted to restore functional hearing at high frequencies and preserve low and mid frequencies.Study Design: Prospective clinical study based on the evaluation of hearing preservation.Setting: Tertiary ENT centerPatients: A series of 11 children (aged 9 to16 years old) with good functional hearing to 1.5 kHz and deafness in all other frequencies was evaluated pre-and postoperatively. All of them had a prelingual bilateral hearing loss.Interventions: During cochlear implantation, a careful insertion of a flexible active electrode was inserted through the round window into scala tympani to a depth of 18 mm by an experienced surgeon.Main outcomes measures: Hearing preservation was assessed according to the Hearing Preservation Calculationbased on the pure-tone audiometry.Result: In the 3-years observation period, the preoperative hearing threshold were completely preserved in 70% of children and partially in 30% of children.Conclusion: As ENS patients are beyond the scope of effective rehabilitation with hearing aids, cochlear implantation seems to be a successful way of restoring hearing ability in the frequencies above 1.5 kHz. Our results are in favour of extending the inclusion criteria applied so far for this group of patients.Define Professional Practice Gap & Educational Need: Lack of contemporary firm knowledge regarding the hearing preservation after cochlear implantation in the pediatric Electro-Natural Stimulation (ENS) group classified according to the Partial Deafness Treatment classification.Learning Objective: To assess the hearing preservation in children with normal hearing in the frequencies 125– 1500 Hz and severe-to-profound hearing loss in frequencies above 1500 Hz.Desired Result: The results confirm the possibility of complete hearing preservation in the majority of evaluated cases and are in favour of extending the inclusion criteria applied so far for this group of patients.Level of Evidence: LEVEL V - Case series, studies with no controlsIRB: Approved