The 'real-life' benefit of hearing preservation cochlear implantation
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The 'real-life' benefit of hearing preservation cochlear implantation in the paediatric population
IRAS ID
310398
Contact name
Iain Alexander Bruce
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 23 days
Research summary
Cochlear implantation is an intervention which allows profoundly deaf individuals to perceive sounds. Cochlear implant (CI) electrode is programmed to receive sounds in place of patient’s cochlea. In some patients it is possible to implant the electrode while preserving some of the natural hearing. This is called hearing preservation (HP) and allows patients to perceive sounds via the CI electrode and their own cochlea.
Results from CI with HP (HPCI) remain variable. The understanding of the factors influencing success is increasing, including surgical skill and technique, steroid usage, ‘patient factors’ and physical characteristics of the electrode. There is variability in published results of HPCI. Patients/parents are reluctant to uptake CI due to possibility of losing any remaining hearing. In the UK, the eligibility criteria for CI have been broadened to include patients with hearing loss equal to or greater than 80dBHL at two or more frequencies. This could increase the number of CI candidates with residual hearing. Countries including Germany, Saudi Arabia and Australia have flexibility in their guidelines to include children with cut off thresholds at 70dBHL. Clinical evaluation of benefit following HPCI focused on ‘standard’ tests. Failure to understand and capture real-life benefits of preserved acoustic hearing risks missing or under-estimating the real-life benefit. Furthermore, there is a limited uptake of electric-acoustic stimulation device in children. The mechanisms behind these challenges are poorly understood but could have substantial consequences for the management and counselling of children with HPCI. The aim of this study is to evaluate the benefit of preserved acoustic hearing in children with a CI. To better understand the real-life benefits of preserved natural hearing to enable parents and children to make an informed choice about implantation. Accomplishing this will ensure that the maximum number of children and young people benefit from this life changing intervention.REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 2 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EM/0017
Date of REC Opinion
16 Feb 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion