Multichannel (Ineraid®) cochlear implant update

From April 1984 to May 1991, 49 profoundly deaf patients received implantation of the Ineraid® multichannel cochlear implant at the University of Utah. The auditory results of 48 patients indicated improvement in mean pure‐tone performance to 500 Hz (32.9 ± 10.1 dB), 1000 Hz (27.1 ± 10.0 dB), and 2000 Hz (30.1 ± 9.8 dB). This group of patients had mean performances of 61.2% on auditory‐only environmental sounds (Minimum Auditory Capabilities [MAC] battery), 48.8% on auditory‐only CID sentences, and 95.5% on auditory‐plus‐visual CID sentences. The percutaneous pedestal has been well‐tolerated. Changes in the surgical skin incisions have been made. A home use speech therapy program has been developed on VHS tapes.