title: Review:  cochlear implants as a treatment of tinnitus in single-sided deafness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tinnitus is a symptom that is highly associated with hearing loss. Its incidence is expected to increase due to the detrimental effects of occupational and leisure noise. Even though no standard treatment is currently available, the effect of cochlear implants on tinnitus in single-sided deafness (SSD) is under scientific attention. This review reveals an overview of all publicly available reports about cochlear implant as a treatment for tinnitus in SSD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cochlear implantation in SSD suppresses tinnitus in most of the cases. Some studies even demonstrate complete tinnitus suppression after implantation. No tinnitus worsening is reported in any of the cases. Furthermore, tinnitus does not restore during the electrical stimulation presented by the cochlear implant. The tinnitus level seems to stabilize after 3-6 months after the first fitting.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the underlying mechanism responsible for the observed tinnitus suppression is not yet clear, cochlear implantation should be considered as a treatment option for tinnitus arising from SSD. However, appropriate patient selection is essential as it is expected that it is a requirement that tinnitus arises from cochlear deafferentation.
authors.affiliation: Department of ENT/Head and Neck Surgery, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands. remo.arts@mumc.nl
authors.forename: Remo A G J
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Arts
authors.forename: Erwin L J
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: George
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stokroos
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Vermeire
mesh_terms: D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D046088:Hearing Loss, Unilateral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome