Restoration of Hearing : Comparing Auditory Brainstem Implant to Cochlear Implant

Abstract

In this review article, the author summarizes the present status of auditory brainstem implant (ABI), comparing it to cochlear implant (CI). CI restores hearing by stimulating the cochlea for patients whose deafness has been caused by inner ear disease; ABI does it by stimulating the cochlear nucleus of the brainstem for those deaf due to bilateral cochlear nerve dysfunction. In the world, up until now, more than 150 patients, almost all of whom are neurofibromatosis type 2, have undergone ABI and had hearing restored. Hearing performance by ABI, however, is not so good as that by CI. To improve the quality of hearing by ABI, new techniques such as neural response telemetry and depth electrodes are now being introduced.