Hybrid cochlear implant:a scoping review

Cochlear implants (CIs) restore the perception of sound for individuals with severe to profound hearing loss by employing electrical stimulation to directly activate the remaining auditory neurons. Post-implantation ipsilateral hearing loss has been observed in every patient series involving hearing preservation cochlear implantation. Patients with residual hearing in the low-pitched area of the cochlea but severe to profound hearing loss in the middle and high-frequency range can be inserted with a shorter electrode array which preserves the residual hearing. The Hybrid CI, also referred to as electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS), is a type of cochlear implant designed to preserve residual acoustic hearing. It allows for the simultaneous use of a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in the same ear. Expanding electrical speech processing to individuals with more remaining acoustic hearing using a less invasive and shorter cochlear implant marks a significant milestone in cochlear implant technology. In Hybrid CI, the integration of electrical and acoustic hearing often leads to notable improvements in word recognition for the majority of cases. There is a distinct advantage of combining acoustic and electric hearing over relying solely on electrical stimulation, particularly in understanding speech in noisy environments and appreciating music. In general, patients who undergo Hybrid CI express high levels of satisfaction with their outcomes. This review's goal is to discuss Hybrid CI with its history, principles, design, candidacy, advantages, and limitations.