THE VIENNA COCHLEAR IMPLANT IN PATIENTS WITH OBLITERATION OF THE COCHLEA

Twelve deaf patients with obliterated or ossified cochleas received th e extracochlear version of the Vienna Cochlear Implant. Four patients, 1 of them a child, developed open speech comprehension. Obliteration of the cochlea could not always be predicted by conventional tomograph y of the temporal bone. Short duration of deafness, wide dynamic range , and good ability of time resolution (small temporal difference limen [TDL]) are predictors for good postoperative results. Obliteration or ossification of the cochlea per se is no contraindication to cochlear implantation.