Cochlear Implantation Benefits for Patients with Trauma-Induced Bilateral Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Analysis

BACKGROUND Accidental or intentional head trauma can result in degrees of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), but if the cochlear nerve is intact, cochlear implantation is the main option to restore hearing. This retrospective study evaluated outcomes from cochlear implantation in 9 patients with bilateral severe SNHL after major head trauma. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study included 9 patients who lost their hearing (deep hearing impairment) due to major head trauma and were qualified for cochlear implantation. Before surgery, each patient underwent tonal and speech audiometry in free field, using a fitted hearing aid. To assess the benefits of cochlear implants, tests were repeated 12 months after surgery, with speech audiometry conducted in quiet and noisy conditions using an active cochlear implant. RESULTS The patients exhibited various consequences of major head trauma, such as fractures of various skull bones and brain tissue damage. All participants showed significant improvement in speech understanding with the active cochlear implant. Before surgery, the average speech audiometry score with hearing aids was 1.6%, which increased to 61.7% in a quiet environment and 32% in a noisy environment after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Cochlear implants give the ability to hear and understand speech to patients who have injuries from major head trauma. The complexity and multifaceted nature of head injury highlights the need for further research and the development of therapeutic methods.