In a recent survey, experienced cochlear implant surgeons reported that they used either lateral wall electrode arrays or perimodiolar electrode arrays in relatively equal numbers in CI cases where “hearing preservation is not a goal”.1 However, nearly 90% of these surgeons prefer a lateral wall electrode array & round window insertion in cases where hearing
Today, we are sharing a fascinating contribution from Professor Helge Rask-Andersen, one of the leading researchers in cochlear anatomy and physiology. Prof. Rask-Andersen is a specialist in ENT & Audiology, an anatomist and electron microscopist, and he is a senior Professor in experimental Otology at the Uppsala University and the Academic Hospital in Uppsala, Sweden.
The MED-EL Surgical Video Library offers complete surgical case studies from leading ENT surgeons. Created in cooperation with ARRI, these high-resolution videos capture precise movements and detailed structures with incredible clarity. Access is free and the easy-to-use library is optimized for desktop or mobile viewing. Today, we’re sharing a surgical case study that focuses on
When it comes to choosing a cochlear implant electrode array, atraumaticity should always be a priority. Even for a candidate with no residual hearing, intact cochlear structures are an important factor in hearing performance. Earlier, we looked at how damage to the cochlea during insertion can significantly affect hearing outcomes. Electrode array deviation into the
High-frequency hearing loss can be particularly challenging to treat. These patients have minimal hearing loss in the low frequencies (125–1000 Hz), so they are not traditional cochlear implant candidates. However, with severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss, hearing aids often do not provide enough benefit. Even with the use of frequency compression or frequency transposition technology in
Image courtesy of SPIE Publications & Kalwani et al. (2013). In part one of this series on electrode array deviation, we looked at how cochlear structures can be damaged when an electrode deviates from the scala tympani into the scala vestibuli.1 This can have a substantial effect on patient outcome, including complete loss of residual
