Prevalence of new-onset vestibular symptoms following cochlear implantation.
OBJECTIVE
To identify the prevalence of new-onset balance symptoms in adult patients who have undergone cochlear implantation (CI).


METHODS
A retrospective, questionnaire-based prevalence study of 227 consecutive adults (age > 16 years) who have undergone CI. The control group comprised patients awaiting CI.


METHODS
Tertiary hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia.


METHODS
All patients implanted at the study centre were contacted. A questionnaire regarding their past medical history and the presence and character of pre- and post-CI dizziness was completed. Patients were divided into four groups based on the presence or absence of their symptoms in relation to the time of implantation. Patients with vestibular symptoms further completed the Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI).


METHODS
Incidence of balance symptoms pre- and post-CI and associated DHI scores.


RESULTS
One hundred ten of 227 patients (48%) responded. Fifty-three (48.3%) had dizziness prior to CI and 64 patients (58.2%) postimplantation. Forty-one patients (37.3%) noted new onset of balance symptoms or a change in their symptoms post-CI. The onset was immediate (within 1 week post-CI) in the majority of this group (63.4%). DHI scores were generally low across all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Delayed- and late-onset new balance-related symptoms occur in approximately 5 and 9% of CI patients, respectively, and the self-perceived handicapping effects of these symptoms may be greater compared with patients with symptoms prior to implantation.
Shoman
Nael
N
Division of Otolaryngology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia.
Ngo
Raymond
R
Archibald
Jason
J
Pijl
Sipke
S
Chan
Shirley
S
Westerberg
Brian D
BD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004244:Dizziness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000502:physiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014722:Vestibule, Labyrinth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult