The effect of cochlear implantation (CI) on tinnitus, particularly unilateral versus bilateral implantation, remains unclear. AIMS: To evaluate the effect of CI on tinnitus by comparing unilateral and bilateral implantation using tinnitus scores and objective hearing performance data.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Audiologists and cochlear implant teams should review this study when counselling implant candidates about tinnitus expectations; if bilateral implantation shows meaningfully greater tinnitus suppression, it may strengthen candidacy arguments for bilateral procedures in patients where tinnitus is a significant concern.
Tinnitus is a major quality-of-life concern for cochlear implant candidates, and clarifying the differential effect of unilateral versus bilateral implantation directly informs pre-surgical counselling and candidacy decisions.
- 01Study compares tinnitus outcomes in unilateral vs. bilateral cochlear implant recipients.
- 02Published in Acta Otolaryngologica.
- 03Cochlear implantation is known to suppress tinnitus in many patients; this study quantifies any difference by laterality.
- 04Findings have direct implications for patient counselling before cochlear implant surgery.
- 05Results may influence bilateral implantation advocacy in tinnitus-burdened patients.
Unilateral and bilateral cochlear implantation have differing effects on tinnitus outcomes.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42532031
- DOI
- 10.1080/00016489.2026.2699324.
- Journal
- Acta Otolaryngologica
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 2b
- Population
- Cochlear implant recipients who underwent unilateral or bilateral implantation
- Intervention
- Bilateral cochlear implantation
- Comparator
- Unilateral cochlear implantation
Primary outcomes
Tinnitus severity or presence post-implantation; Change in tinnitus outcomes comparing unilateral vs. bilateral implantation