No abstract

Cochlear implantation has becom e widely accept ed as an effective means ofhea ring rehabilitation in seve rely and prof oundly deaf indi viduals. In the elde rly, cochlear impl antation in volves a number ofu nique issues that can affect patient outcomes. These fa ctors include age-related changes in the auditory sys tem, prolonged durations of deafness, diminished communication abilities, and coexi sting medi cal and psychosocial p roblems. In genera l, the result s of coc hlea r implantation in the elde rly hav e been comparable with those of yo unge r adults. Perioperati ve attenti on to medical and surgica l details allowsfo r safe inserti on and a minimum of'postoperative complications. Pati ents olde r than 65 hav e obtained exce llent results by both audiologic and quality-oflife measures. From the Hou se Ear C linic and the House Ear Institute. Los Ange les. Re print req uests: Wi lliam M. Luxfo rd. MD. Clinical Stud ies Depar tment. Hou se Ear Inst itute, 2 100 W. Third St., 5th Floor, Los Ange les, CA 90057-9927. Phone :

No abstract

Primary stapedectomies were performed on 60 patients with bilateral otosclerosis. Every patient had a 4 mm long Robinson prosthesis with a 0.4 mm wide shaft placed in one ear and a 4 mm long Robinson prosthesis with 0.6 mm wide shaft placed in the opposite ear. With the 0.4 mm wide prosthesis, 54 patients overclosed the air bone gap and 6 were within 10 dB of closing. With the 0.6 mm wide prosthesis, which was placed in the opposite ear, 51 patients overclosed their air-bone gap and 8 were within 10 dB of closing. We conclude that there is no statistical difference in hearing results between the 0.4 mm and the 0.6 mm wide Robinson prosthesis when they are used in a partial stapedectomy with a vein graft covering the oval window.

No abstract