The goal of cochlear implantation is to restore hearing to people who are functionally deaf. Tinnitus is a common perception among deaf people. If a cochlear implant is successful and allows the patient to hear some external sounds, this usually reduces the perception of tinnitus, especially on the implanted side. Numerous studies reported that cochlear implants reduced or suppressed tinnitus for a majority of patients who experienced tinnitus prior to implantation (Brackmann, 1981; Tyler & Kelsay, 1990; McKerrow et al, 1991; Souliere et al, 1992; Ito, 1997; Dauman, 2000; Ruckenstein et al, 2001).
Mo B, Harris S, Lindbaek M.
ENT-Department Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
birger.mo@labmed.uio.no
As part of a quality of life study, 84 patients who received multichannel intra-cochlear cochlear implants (CIs) were evaluated regarding tinnitus problems by a quTahestionnaire. As controls, 60 hearing aid (HA) users and 35 non-operated CI candidates were used. The prevalence of tinnitus in the CI group was 70%, and that of troublesome tinnitus was 35%. In the two other groups, the prevalences of tinnitus were 40% (HA) and 74% (non-CI). Twenty-three per cent of HA users and 51% of non-operated CI candidates had troublesome tinnitus. CIs were found to be superior to HAs in reducing tinnitus, 54% of the CI patients with tinnitus experiencing a reduction in tinnitus when using a CI. In the other two groups, 4% of HA users and 23% of non-operated CI candidates experienced a reduction in tinnitus when using an HA. Eight per cent of the CI patients with tinnitus experienced an increase in tinnitus when using their implant. Not having paid employment was independently associated with troublesome tinnitus in all three groups.PMID: 12477173 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Effect of CIs on tinnitus. Several investigators have reported significant relief from tinnitus following cochlear implantation. Overall, 71% to 92% of the patients report tinnitus suppression or elimination due to CIs, especially in the ear with the implant. In addition, many patients report relief in the nonimplanted ear.8-11 Furthermore, several patients experience relief for 60 seconds to several hours after the CI is turned off.9 Up to 9% of patients may report exacerbation of tinnitus, suggesting a relatively small risk of increase in tinnitus following cochlear implants.12
Mo et al5 compared the effect of hearing aid use and CI use on troublesome tinnitus. A reduction in troublesome tinnitus was reported by 54% of the CI patients, while only 23% of the hearing aid users who were candidates for CI reported reduction.
Overall, the above findings suggest that CIs can provide at least some, if not complete, relief from tinnitus for a majority of patients.
Potential Benefits of Cochlear Implants for Individuals Who Communicate Exclusively Through Sign Language | October 2007 | The Hearing Review
