Image Based Question-66119

A child with B/L severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss is brought for implantation of this structure (marked with arrow) in this image. For the implantation, the following structure should be intact:

A. Outer hair cell

B. Inner hair cell

C. Auditory nerve

D. All of the above

Show Answer

Correct Answer » C Explanation

Ans : C. Auditory nerve.

This structure is cochlea.

Cochlear implants

They are neural prostheses that convert sound energy to electrical signals and can be used to stimulate the auditory division of the eighth nerve directly.

General criteria for cochler implant candidacy

• B/L severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss(with non-functional Cochlear Hair Cells).

• PTA of 70 dB or more

• Little or no benefit from hearing aids.

• No medical contraindication for surgery.

• An intact and functional auditory processing pathway, from Spiral ganglion cells to – Auditory Nerve to -Auditory cortex.

• Realistic expectation

• Good family and social support

• Adequate cognitive function to be able to use the disease.

Contraindications for Cochlear Implants:

• Deafness caused by lesions of the acoustic nerve or the central auditory pathway

• Active middle ear infections

• Cochlear ossification that prevents electrode insertion

• Cochlear malformation is not a contraindication for cochlear implantation.