Cochlear implant in tinnitus management

Curr Opin Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2023 Apr 1;31(2):155-157. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000874. Epub 2023 Jan 31.

Abstract

Purpose of review: To evaluate whether cochlear implantation can mitigate tinnitus perception and its discomfort among patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss, in order to provide an answer on a possible treatment for a health condition with high prevalence and impact on quality of life.

Recent findings: Tinnitus can develop after peripheral hearing loss and is associated with altered auditory processing. It does not only involve auditory structures but also aberrant neural activity and interaction with other regions of the Central Nervous System associated with emotion, attention, anguish, memory and motor activity.

Summary: Recent studies investigated the changes in tinnitus perception among patients who underwent cochlear implantation and demonstrated a postoperative decrease. Hence, patients with severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus are likely to benefit from cochlear implantation.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cochlear Implantation*
  • Cochlear Implants*
  • Hearing Loss* / complications
  • Hearing Loss, Sensorineural* / therapy
  • Humans
  • Quality of Life
  • Speech Perception* / physiology
  • Tinnitus* / complications
  • Tinnitus* / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome