Audiologic Outcomes with Auditory Brainstem Implantation Including Successful Open Set Speech Perception with Bilateral Implantation

Douglas M. Bennion; Alicia Williams; Claire Perrin; Joshua Lee; Peter Eckard; Philipp Verpukhovskiy; Madeline Gibson; Rick A. Friedman; Marc S. Schwartz

doi:10.3390/audiolres16040095

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Audiologic Outcomes with Auditory Brainstem Implantation Including Successful Open Set Speech Perception with Bilateral Implantation

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Audiologic Outcomes with Auditory Brainstem Implantation Including Successful Open Set Speech Perception with Bilateral Implantation

Douglas M. Bennion, Alicia Williams, Claire Perrin, Joshua Lee, Peter Eckard, Philipp Verpukhovskiy, Madeline Gibson, Rick A. Friedman and Marc S. Schwartz

Audiology research (Pavia, Italy), Vol.16(4), 95

06/23/2026

DOI: 10.3390/audiolres16040095

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: For patients with profound deafness resulting from auditory nerve pathology, as in Neurofibromatosis type 2, auditory brainstem implantation (ABI) can restore meaningful acoustic input. The literature reporting real-world results for ABI users is limited, especially regarding patients with bilateral implants. Here, we provide an updated report on the audiologic outcomes among all ABI patients treated at a tertiary institution, including high-performing bilateral ABI users. Methods: In this updated and expanded retrospective case series, audiologic outcomes were reviewed in sixteen consecutive patients who underwent ABI placement by a single neurosurgeon-neurotologist team at our center since 2018. Implantation in four of these patients was on their second side after having undergone first side implantation prior to receiving care at our hospital. Main outcome measures were sound awareness (sound-field threshold testing) and speech understanding (pattern perception, spondee, open-set speech testing). Results: Sound awareness was achieved in 100% of patients (16/16) using an average of 12 electrodes (range 7–20). Persistent non-auditory sensations were reported by 12.5% (2/16). Postoperative speech differentiation (with or without lip-reading) was experienced in 87.5% (14/16). Two second-sided ABI recipients experienced exceptional outcomes as high-performing outliers: one achieved 57% audio only and 86% audio + visual hearing in noise test (HINT) sentence scores; the second bilateral user scored 92% with auditory-only input. Conclusions: ABI represents a viable option for patients who are at risk of developing bilateral profound deafness resulting from auditory nerve disruption. Second sided device implantation is safe and has the potential to significantly improve auditory outcomes.

Details

Title: Subtitle: Audiologic Outcomes with Auditory Brainstem Implantation Including Successful Open Set Speech Perception with Bilateral Implantation
Creators: Douglas M. Bennion - University of Iowa
Alicia Williams - University of San Diego
Claire Perrin - University of California San Diego
Joshua Lee - University of San Diego
Peter Eckard - University of Iowa
Philipp Verpukhovskiy - University of California San Diego
Madeline Gibson - University of San Diego
Rick A. Friedman - University of California San Diego
Marc S. Schwartz - University of California San Diego
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Audiology research (Pavia, Italy), Vol.16(4), 95
DOI: 10.3390/audiolres16040095
ISSN: 2039-4349
eISSN: 2039-4349
Publisher: MDPI
Language: English
Date published: 06/23/2026
Academic Unit: Otolaryngology
Record Identifier: 9985180939302771

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