RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To discuss the method as well as effect of hearing restoration for patients with acoustic neuroma (AN) in the only hearing ear. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in three patients with AN in the only hearing ear. Ipsilateral cochlear implantation (CI) was performed in case 1 and contralateral CI was performed in case 2 without tumor resection. In case 3, CI was performed 6 months after tumor removal by the retrosigmoid approach. Dynamic changes in the audiological tests was recorded regularly. RESULTS: In case 1 and case 2, no matter which side CI was performed, pure tone average (PTA) was improved clearly, and speech discrimination score (SDS) was slightly increased. In case 3, hearing loss was observed after tumor removal. Simultaneous bilateral CI after 12 months was performed in this case. PTA on both sides was largely lower than that before CI, and SDS was slightly improved. With bilateral CI, SDS was improved, especially in noise, compared with unilateral CI on either side. CONCLUSIONS: For patients with AN in the only hearing ear, CI can significantly improve PTA, and SDS can be slightly increased. Bilateral CI should improve the outcome of hearing restoration compared with unilateral CI.
