Importance of cochlear health for implant function

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

来源：Hearing Research, 2015, 322: 77-88.

DOI：10.1016/j.heares.2014.09.009

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.

• 出版日期2015-4