The Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Balance in Adolescents
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The Effect of Cochlear Implantation on Balance in Adolescents
IRAS ID
134759
Contact name
Iain Bruce
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Research summary
The literature shows a high proportion of children with severe to profound hearing loss have balance dysfunction. However, very little is known about balance dysfunction in adolescents with hearing loss. It is important to be aware of underlying balance dysfunction in patients prior to undergoing cochlear implantation (CI) due to the potential deterioration in balance following surgery. The majority of studies looking at post-operative balance have been undertaken in adult case series, with few studies looking at post-operative vertigo in children and no studies specifically looking at adolescents. It is known that performing a ’soft surgical technique’ for cochlear implantation can preserve residual low frequency hearing but whether this can preserve balance function has only been investigated in one small study as a secondary outcome. There is a need to investigate whether balance function is prevalent in adolescents with sensorineural hearing loss, whether adolescents’ balance deteriorates after cochlear implantation and if surgical techniques can limit any potential post-operative balance dysfunction.
Study Aims
1 Determine the incidence of subclinical and clinical vertigo in adolescents with severe to profound hearing loss.
2 Determine the balance function in adolescents who have previously undergone implantation with reference to the surgical technique used.
3 Determine if the surgical technique for cochlear implantation influences the maintenance of underlying balance function in adolescent following cochlear implantation.
4 Evaluate and compare different investigation techniques for balance function in adolescent following cochlear implantation.
We propose a 3 year prospective study investigating balance function in profoundly deaf adolescents under the care of the Manchester Auditory Implant Centre who are under assessment for follow up for CI.
REC name
North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 1
REC reference
13/NS/0121
Date of REC Opinion
16 Oct 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion