title: Hearing Preservation after Cochlear Implantation: UNICAMP Outcomes.
abstract: Background. Electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) is an excellent choice for people with residual hearing in low frequencies but not high frequencies and who derive insufficient benefit from hearing aids. For EAS to be effective, subjects' residual hearing must be preserved during cochlear implant (CI) surgery. Methods. We implanted 6 subjects with a CI. We used a special surgical technique and an electrode designed to be atraumatic. Subjects' rates of residual hearing preservation were measured 3 times postoperatively, lastly after at least a year of implant experience. Subjects' aided speech perception was tested pre- and postoperatively with a sentence test in quiet. Subjects' subjective responses assessed after a year of EAS or CI experience. Results. 4 subjects had total or partial residual hearing preservation; 2 subjects had total residual hearing loss. All subjects' hearing and speech perception benefited from cochlear implantation. CI diminished or eliminated tinnitus in all 4 subjects who had it preoperatively. 5 subjects reported great satisfaction with their new device. Conclusions. When we have more experience with our surgical technique we are confident we will be able to report increased rates of residual hearing preservation. Hopefully, our study will raise the profile of EAS in Brazil and Latin/South America.
authors.affiliation: Otology, Audiology and Implantable Ear Prostheses, Ear, Nose, Throat and Head & Neck Surgery Department, P.O. Box 6111, Campinas University, UNICAMP, 13081-970 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme Machado
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: de Carvalho
authors.forename: Alexandre C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Guimaraes
authors.forename: Alexandre S M
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.forename: Eder B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Muranaka
authors.forename: Marcelo N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Soki
authors.forename: Renata S Zanotello
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.forename: Walter A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Bianchini
authors.forename: Jorge R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Paschoal
authors.forename: Arthur M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Castilho