title: The narrow internal auditory canal in children: a contraindication to cochlear implants.
abstract: We suggest a new explanation for the lack of auditory response to electric stimulation in children with cochlear implants: the very narrow internal auditory canal, 1 to 2 mm in diameter, and the probable absence of the cochlear nerve. This defect can be seen on high-resolution computed tomographic x-ray studies and may represent aplasia of the auditory-vestibular nerve. We report on eight children with this anomaly, three of whom have received implants and failed to respond with a sensation of sound. Identification of this problem on screening x-ray films is a contraindication to cochlear implantation for auditory stimulation.
authors.affiliation: Otologic Medical Group, Inc., Los Angeles, CA 90057.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Shelton
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Luxford
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Tonokawa
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Lo
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: House
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004424:Ear Canal / Q000002:abnormalities*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014725:Vestibular Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities; D000159:Vestibulocochlear Nerve / Q000002:abnormalities