Using a single linear measurement from a CT scan image can reliably estimate the two-turn and complete CDLs in human temporal bones. The two-turn length represents the best compromise of cochlear coverage while minimizing intracochlear trauma for electrode insertions.

Cochlear reimplantation can be performed safely and without decrement to performance. The number of implanted electrodes at reinsertion were either the same or greater in all cases.

Objective:To demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of the MED-EL Electric-Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) System, for adults with residual low-frequency hearing and severe-to-profound hearing loss in the mid to high frequencies.Study Design:Prospective, repeated measures.Setting:Multicenter, hospital.Patients:Seventy-three subjects implanted with PULSAR or SONATA cochlear implants with FLEX24 electrode arrays.Intervention:Subjects were fit postoperatively with an audio processor, combining electric stimulation and acoustic amplification.Main Outcome Measures:Unaided thresholds were measured preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 12 months postactivation. Speech perception was assessed at these intervals using City University of New York sentences in noise and consonant–nucleus–consonant words in quiet. Subjective benefit was assessed at these intervals via the Abbreviated Profile of Hearing Aid Benefit and Hearing Device Satisfaction Scale questionnaires.Results:Sixty-seven of 73 subjects (92%) completed outcome measures for all study intervals. Of those 67 subjects, 79% experienced less than a 30 dB HL low-frequency pure-tone average (250–1000 Hz) shift, and 97% were able to use the acoustic unit at 12 months postactivation. In the EAS condition, 94% of subjects performed similarly to or better than their preoperative performance on City University of New York sentences in noise at 12 months postactivation, with 85% demonstrating improvement. Ninety-seven percent of subjects performed similarly or better on consonant–nucleus–consonant words in quiet, with 84% demonstrating improvement.Conclusion:The MED-EL EAS System is a safe and effective treatment option for adults with normal hearing to moderate sensorineural hearing loss in the low frequencies and severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss in the high frequencies who do not benefit from traditional amplification.

Although monaural word scores and aided thresholds favored the walk-in-aided condition, preliminary results indicate that the Otologics MET Fully-Implantable Ossicular Stimulator is an alternative to currently available hearing aids in patients with sensorineural hearing loss.

Our cochlear revision series are comparable to what is reported in the literature. However, an unexpected relationship between meningitis was identified among our soft failure group. More than one-quarter carried a history of meningitis. Moreover, nearly one-half of all soft failures had some form of inflammatory derangement. We used the soft failure criteria established by the 2005 Consensus Development Conference for our population analysis. Although we agree that audiologic data often are essential for defining soft failure, multiple patients in our series experienced pain that was severe enough to prevent a complete audiometric evaluation, therefore not rigorously fulfilling the criteria set forth by the 2005 Consensus. However, because their symptoms resolved after reimplantation, and their speech performance restored, we propose modifications of the current definition of "soft failure" to include these patients.