Reimplantation of a molded scala tympani electrode: impact on psychophysical and speech discrimination abilities

Abstract

Revision surgery was successfully performed on two Vienna cochlear implant patients. Twenty months and 40 months, respectively, after initial insertion into the cochleas of two bilaterally deaf patients, electrodes were removed from the scala tympanis and replaced by electrodes of the same design. Psychophysical and speech data gathered before and after the revision surgery were compared. These were thresholds, loudness scalings, amplitude difference limens, pitch scalings, frequency difference limens, and speech tests in the "stimulation only" modality. No negative changes were found. The data available demonstrate a continuous improvement in performance over many months of practice with the sound processor. This development was not impeded by the revision surgery. Thus, it was demonstrated that the removal and replacement of a molded scala tympani electrode is feasible.