Implante coclear en pacientes con hipoacusia súbita unilateral y acúfeno asociado / Cochlear implant in patients with sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and associated tinnitus

Introducción y objetivos: Valorar la eficacia del implante coclear en pacientes con hipoacusia súbita unilateral y acúfeno incapacitante asociado. Métodos: Se han implantado 10 pacientes con hipoacusia súbita severa-profunda unilateral y acúfeno asociado, entre los cuales 4 son varones y 6 mujeres, con media de edad a la implantación de 42,7 años (rango: 34-62). Hemos evaluado la severidad del acúfeno mediante el Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) en su versión validada al castellano y una escala analógica visual pre y postimplantación. Resultados: Se ha observado una supresión del acúfeno en dos pacientes. Siete pacientes han experimentado una mejoría del THI en distintos grados y no se han producido cambios en un paciente. No ha habido empeoramiento del acúfeno en ningún caso de la serie estudiada. Conclusiones: La reducción del acúfeno tras implantación coclear se puede deber a varios mecanismos, tales como la habituación, enmascaramiento acústico, estimulación directa del nervio coclear y reorganización de las áreas corticales. Aunque sean precisos más estudios, el implante coclear es un método efectivo para el tratamiento del acúfeno incapacitante en pacientes con hipoacusia súbita severa-profunda unilateral(AU)

Introduction and objectives: To assess the efficacy of cochlear implantation in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss and associated disabling tinnitus. Methods: Ten patients suffering from severe-to-profound sudden hearing loss and tinnitus in the affected ear received implants. The sample was comprised of 4 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 42.7 years (range 34-62) at implantation. The severity of the tinnitus was evaluated with the Spanish validated version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and a visual analogue scale. These assessments were obtained before and after implantation. Results: Tinnitus suppression was observed in 2 patients. In 7 cases, we observed an improvement in the THI, in different degrees, and 1 patient remained without changes. Tinnitus worsening was not found in the series studied. Conclusions: Tinnitus reduction following cochlear implantation can be explained by several mechanisms, such as habituation, acoustic masking, direct stimulation of the cochlear nerve and reorganisation of cortical areas. Even though further research is required, cochlear implantation is an effective method for the treatment of disabling tinnitus in patients with severe-to-profound unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss(AU)

Cochlear implant in patients with sudden unilateral sensorineural hearing loss and associated tinnitus.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To assess the efficacy of cochlear implantation in patients with unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss and associated disabling tinnitus. METHODS: Ten patients suffering from severe-to-profound sudden hearing loss and tinnitus in the affected ear received implants. The sample was comprised of 4 men and 6 women, with a mean age of 42.7 years (range 34-62) at implantation. The severity of the tinnitus was evaluated with the Spanish validated version of the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and a visual analogue scale. These assessments were obtained before and after implantation. RESULTS: Tinnitus suppression was observed in 2 patients. In 7 cases, we observed an improvement in the THI, in different degrees, and 1 patient remained without changes. Tinnitus worsening was not found in the series studied. CONCLUSIONS: Tinnitus reduction following cochlear implantation can be explained by several mechanisms, such as habituation, acoustic masking, direct stimulation of the cochlear nerve and reorganisation of cortical areas. Even though further research is required, cochlear implantation is an effective method for the treatment of disabling tinnitus in patients with severe-to-profound unilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss.