Brainstem hearing implants restored sound for patients with nerve damage
Original title: Audiologic Outcomes with Auditory Brainstem Implantation Including Successful Open Set Speech Perception with Bilateral Implantation.
How far along is this research?
- Lab cells
- Animals
- Review
- Tested in people
This was tested in people. That is the most reliable kind of research we share.
This implant is already used in people, and this report describes patients who received it as part of their care.
The short version
A hospital looked back at 16 patients who got a hearing implant placed on the brainstem, and all of them could sense sound afterward.
What was studied. Doctors at one hospital reviewed the records of sixteen patients who received an auditory brainstem implant since 2018. This device is used when the hearing nerve is damaged, such as in Neurofibromatosis type 2. Four of the patients were getting an implant on their second side.
What they found. Sound awareness was achieved in 100% (16/16) of patients. They used an average of 12 electrodes, with a range of 7 to 20. Being able to tell speech sounds apart, with or without lip reading, happened in 87.5% (14/16). Lasting sensations that were not hearing were reported by 12.5% (2/16). Two people with an implant on the second side did much better than the others. One scored 57% on a sentence test using hearing alone, and 86% with hearing plus watching the speaker. The other scored 92% using hearing alone.
What this means, and what it doesn't
What it could mean: For people at risk of losing hearing in both ears from hearing nerve damage, this implant may bring back some useful sound. A few people did well enough to understand spoken sentences. The team also reported that adding a device on the second side was safe.
What it doesn't mean: This is not a cure for deafness, and it does not repair the hearing nerve. This was a look back at records from one hospital and only sixteen patients. There was no comparison group. Most patients did not reach the high scores the two standout people did. Results this good may not happen for everyone. Talk with your own care team about whether this device fits your situation.
Source: PubMed, June 23, 2026 · Read the original
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