Assessment of the peripheral vestibular analyzer in children after cochlear implantation

Abstract

Topicality: Despite the fact that during cochlear implantation can have negative impact on the peripheral part of the vestibular analyzer, in most clinics that perform CI, there is no routine examination of vestibular function in the pre- and postoperative periods. Aim: to study the condition of the peripheral vestibular analyzer in children with sensorineural deafness before and after cochlear implantation through the analysis of quantitative characteristics of the rotational test. Material and methods: The prospective study included 30 children with normal hearing and no vestibular complaints (control group), 34 children with sensorineural deafness, 65 children with sensorineural deafness after unilateral cochlear implantation. All children were tested on a rotatory chair according to the standard method, the average speed of the slow phase of post-rotation nystagmus was determined by stimulation of the left and right labyrinths. Results: In children with sensorineural deafness, labyrinthine areflexia was detected on the right in 17.6% and on the left in 20.6% of cases. Bilateral labyrinthine areflexia was observed in 17.6% of subjects. Vestibular asymmetry was found in 29.4% of cases. In the remote period after unilateral cochlear implantation, labyrinthine function was within normal limits on the right in 38.5%, on the left in 44.6% of children, areflexia of the right labyrinth was detected in 20%, left - in 26.2% of children, bilateral areflexia in 18,5% of subjects, asymmetric impression was found in 30.8% of cases. Labyrinthine areflexia on the implanted ear was recorded in 32.7% after cochlear implantation on the right, a difference statistically significant compared with the group of unimplanted children with sensorineural deafness.