Importance of cochlear health for implant function

Bryan E. Pfingst*, Ning Zhou, Deborah J. Colesa, Melissa M. Watts, Stefan B. Strahl, Soha N. Garadat, Kara C. Schvartz-Leyzac, Cameron L. Budenz, Yehoash Raphael, Teresa A. Zwolan

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

110 Scopus citations

Abstract

Amazing progress has been made in providing useful hearing to hearing-impaired individuals using cochlear implants, but challenges remain. One such challenge is understanding the effects of partial degeneration of the auditory nerve, the target of cochlear implant stimulation. Here we review studies from our human and animal laboratories aimed at characterizing the health of the implanted cochlea and the auditory nerve. We use the data on cochlear and neural health to guide rehabilitation strategies. The data also motivate the development of tissue-engineering procedures to preserve or build a healthy cochlea and improve performance obtained by cochlear implant recipients or eventually replace the need for a cochlear implant. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Lasker Award>.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)77-88
Number of pages12
JournalHearing research
Volume322
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1 2015

Funding

The research was supported by NIH-NIDCD R01 DC010786, R01 DC 007634, R01 DC010412, T32 DC00011, T32 DC005356 and P30 DC05188, the U. of M. Center for Organogenesis and a contract from MED-EL. We thank our dedicated subjects with cochlear implants for participation in these studies. We thank Caroline Arnedt, Jennifer Benson, Lisa Beyer, Raisa Gao, Elizabeth Hyde, Lisa Kabara, Moaz Sinan, Gina Su and Donald Swiderski, for their assistance with data collection and analysis.

Keywords

  • AAV
  • ASM
  • Ad
  • BDNF
  • C level
  • CUNY sentences
  • DPI
  • EABR
  • ECAP
  • GDT
  • IHC
  • MDT
  • MPI
  • N1
  • NT-3
  • NTF-3
  • P2
  • SGN
  • SNR
  • T level
  • TI

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Sensory Systems

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