Vestibular Function Pre and Post Cochlear Implants in 71 Patients

There is no doubt that cochlear implant has been the most important contribution made by otologic surgery to the disabilities caused by profound hearing loss, both in children and in adults. 71 adult and pediatric patients were studied. The possible cause of deafness was obtained and a Video Head Impulse Test was performed to all of them. In a large group of patients with profound bilateral deafness of different etiologies, the vestibular function previous to the implant was not significantly affected except in 9.72% of the cases. In most patients, the coclear implant did not significantly modify the VOR function. In the group of patients who previously had a damaged or asymmetric vestibular function, if the best ear is implanted, this could cause a bilateral vestibular failure, so that the ear with the lowest gain should be chosen to be implanted.. The implant, when performed by experienced professionals, does not affect vestibular function, except in those cases where it is already damaged or asymmetric.