Case report: Can cochlear implant stimulation lead to improved balance even after vestibular neurectomy?

Autor:	Sluydts M; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium.; Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., De Laet C; Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., De Coninck L; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium., Blaivie C; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium., van Dinther JJS; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium., Offeciers E; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium., Wuyts FL; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium.; Lab for Equilibrium Investigations and Aerospace, Faculty of Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium., Zarowski A; Ear-Nose-Throat Department, European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Antwerp, Belgium.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Frontiers in neurology [Front Neurol] 2023 Aug 25; Vol. 14, pp. 1248715. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 25 (Print Publication: 2023).
DOI:	10.3389/fneur.2023.1248715
Abstrakt:	Introduction: In a previous manuscript from our research group, the concept of vestibular co-stimulation was investigated in adult subjects who received a cochlear implant (CI). Despite what literature reports state, no signs of vestibular co-stimulation could be observed. Results: In this case report, it was described how a woman, who previously underwent a neurectomy of the left vestibular nerve and suffers from bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP), reported improved balance whenever her CI on the left was stimulating. Unexpectedly, the sway analyses during posturography indeed showed a clinically relevant improvement when the CI was activated. Discussion: Vestibular co-stimulation as a side effect of CI stimulation could not be the explanation in this case due to the ipsilateral vestibular neurectomy. It is more likely that the results can be attributed to the electrically restored auditory input, which serves as an external reference for maintaining balance and spatial orientation. In addition, this patient experienced disturbing tinnitus whenever her CI was deactivated. It is thus plausible that the tinnitus increased her cognitive load, which was already increased because of the BVP, leading to an increased imbalance in the absence of CI stimulation. Competing Interests: MS, AZ, and FW are members of a European consortium, called BionicVEST. BionicVEST is a research project sponsored by Horizon 2020, for developing a combined cochleo-otolith implant. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. (Copyright © 2023 Sluydts, De Laet, De Coninck, Blaivie, van Dinther, Offeciers, Wuyts and Zarowski.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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