Bilateral cochlear implants in infants: a new approach--Nucleus Hybrid S12 project.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this feasibility study was to evaluate whether the use of a shorter-length cochlear implant (10 mm) on one ear and a standard electrode (24 mm) on the contralateral ear is a viable bilateral option for children with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. A secondary purpose of this study was to determine whether the ear with the shorter-length electrode performs similarly to the standard-length electrode. Our goal was to provide an option of electrical stimulation that theoretically might preserve the structures of the scala media and organ of Corti.


METHODS
The study is being conducted as a repeated-measure, single-subject experiment.


METHODS
University of Iowa-Department of Otolaryngology.


METHODS
Eight pediatric patients with profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss between the ages of 12 and 24 months.


METHODS
Nucleus Hybrid S12 10-mm electrode and a Nucleus Freedom implant in the contralateral ear.


METHODS
The Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) parent questionnaire, Early Speech Perception, Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure word test, and Children's Vowel tests will be used to evaluate speech perception and the Minnesota Child Development Inventory and Preschool Language Scales 3 test will be used to evaluate language growth.


RESULTS
Preliminary results for 8 children have been collected before and after the operation using the IT-MAIS. All 3 children showed incremental improvements in their IT-MAIS scores overtime. Early Speech Perception, Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure word test, and Children's Vowel word perception results indicated no difference between the individual ears for the 2 children tested. Performance compared with age-matched children implanted with standard bilateral cochlear implants showed similar results to the children implanted with Nucleus Hybrid S12 10-mm electrode and a Nucleus Freedom implant in contralateral ears.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of a shorter-length cochlear implant on one ear and a standard-length electrode on the contralateral ear might provide a viable option for bilateral cochlear implantation in children with bilateral profound sensorineural hearing loss. Further study of this patient population will be continued.
Gantz
Bruce J
BJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1078, USA. bruce-gantz@uiowa.edu
Dunn
Camille C
CC
Walker
Elizabeth A
EA
Kenworthy
Maura
M
Van Voorst
Tanya
T
Tomblin
Bruce
B
Turner
Chris
C
D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006312:Hearing Loss, Bilateral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
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