Prognostic Value of Trial Round Window Stimulation for Selection of Candidates for Cochlear Implantation as Treatment for Tinnitus

Electrical stimulation with cochlear implants is able to significantly suppress the tinnitus sensations in 25–72% of implanted patients. Up to this point, no clear predictors for the effectiveness of tinnitus suppression with cochlear implants have been found and this substantially limits the possibility of the application of cochlear implants for this purpose. The objective of the study was to investigate if a trial electrical round window stimulation (RWS) could be used as a diagnostic tool for identifying candidates in whom electrical stimulation would be successful as treatment for tinnitus. Thirty-four patients with unilateral severe tinnitus and ipsilateral moderate to severe sensorineural hearing loss underwent a trial RWS under local anesthesia. Thirteen patients received a cochlear implant. All patients qualified for cochlear implantation on the basis of the trial RWS showed tinnitus suppression with the implant switched on. Complete or almost complete tinnitus suppression was obtained in 77% and partial in 23%. The mean tinnitus loudness reduction was 68% (VAS score reduction from 7.7 to 2.5). False negative results are estimated not to exceed 10–15%. We conclude that significant tinnitus suppression achieved during trial RWS under local anesthesia is a simple procedure allowing the efficient identification of candidates in whom electrical stimulation with a cochlear implant would be successful as treatment for intractable tinnitus.