THE RISK OF VESTIBULAR FUNCTION LOSS AFTER INTRACOCHLEAR IMPLANTATION

Sixty patients were selected for cochlear implantation and 50 of them received an intracochlear implant (Nucleus). Vestibular function was e valuated before and after surgery using a caloric test and a velocity step test. Sixteen patients had normal or residual vestibular function before surgery. 11 bilateral and 5 unilateral: in 3 of the latter pat ients, the ear with vestibular areflexia was elected for implantation. which reduced the number of patients at risk for vestibular dysfuncti on to 13. Vestibular function was preserved in all of these patients e xcept for 3: the risk of vestibular function loss can therefore be rat ed at about 31%.