Speechunderstanding after Cochlea Implantation and vestibular Schwannoma resection – a case report

Introduction Audiologic rehabilitation after vestibular schwannomaresection is a challenging task for audiologists and ENT-doctors. Cochleaimplantation can be advantageous if the nerve is preserved intraoperative and the receiver/stimulator is positioned in a specific mannerthat allows artifact free MRI follow-up.

Material and methods A 28 year old patient was reffered to our clinc after retrosigmoidal resection of a vestibular schawnnoma. She preseted with unilateral deafness and a mild facialpareses. Speech understanding was at 0% at 65dB at theright side. Promontorial testing showed only tactilevalues in all frequencies.

Results We performed a unilateral cochlear implantation on theright side. Impedences were regular intraoperative. Threshold neural response telemetry could not beelicted intraoperative. At the initial fitting hearing was possible at electrodes 1-15 with speech understanding of50% at 65dB. After three months speech understandingwas 75% at 65dB.

Discussion Dispite missing intraoperative nerval responses, the patient showed satisfying speech understanding after cochlea implantation. Cochleaimplantation after vestibular schwannoma resection can be satisfying for the patient, but it should be kept in mind that the artifactof the magnet within the receiver/stimulator can limit the follow-up.

 

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Publication History

Article published online:
19 April 2024