title: Tinnitus Suppression After Auditory Brainstem Implantation in Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type-2.
abstract: To evaluate whether an auditory brainstem implant (ABI) can impact levels of tinnitus in neurofibromatosis type-2 (NF2) patients who have undergone translabyrinthine craniotomy for vestibular schwannoma (VS) removal and to evaluate the burden of tinnitus in these patients.
  
  
  
  A retrospective case series and patient survey.
  
  
  
  Tertiary neurotologic referral center.
  
  
  
  NF2 patients who underwent translabyrinthine removal of VS and ABI placement between 1994 and 2015.
  
  
  
  A survey, retrospective review and two validated tinnitus handicap questionnaires (tinnitus handicap inventory [THI] and tinnitus visual analogue scale [VAS]) were used to characterize the degree of tinnitus in NF2 patients and whether an ABI can alter tinnitus levels.
  
  
  
  Survey results, THI and VAS scores.
  
  
  
  One hundred twelve ABI users were contacted and 43 patients (38.3)% responded to our survey. Tinnitus was reported in 83.7% of patients. The THI score for responders was 17.8 ± 20.5 standard deviation (SD). For survey participants, the ABI reduced tinnitus levels (mean VAS: Off = 3.5; On 1-h = 2.1; p = 0.048). For patients who subjectively reported that the ABI reduced tinnitus loudness, tinnitus levels were immediately reduced on ABI activation and after 1 hour of use (mean VAS: Off = 4.8; On = 2.4; On 1-h = 1.8; p < 0.01). Suppression did not continue after the device was turned off. Audiological performance with the ABI did not correlate with tinnitus suppression.
  
  
  
  NF2 patients who have undergone removal of VS have a significant tinnitus handicap and benefit from tinnitus suppression through utilization of an ABI possibly through masking or electrical stimulation of the auditory brainstem.
authors.affiliation: *Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut †House Clinic and House Ear Institute, Los Angeles, California ‡Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, El Paso, Texas §House Clinic, Neurosurgery, Los Angeles, California ||Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, California.
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kevin A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Marc S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Derald E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Brackmann
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: House
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D038263:Auditory Brain Stem Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D038262:Auditory Brain Stem Implants; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016518:Neurofibromatosis 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014012:Tinnitus / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*