[The history of cochlear implantation]

[Epidemiological characteristics of the pediatric population of cochlear implant users in St. Petersburg]

An epidemiological analysis of the pediatric population of cochlear implant (CI) users in St. Petersburg, the second largest metropolis of Russian Federation, was carried out. CI users are 14% of the total number of hearing impaired children, and 26% of children with hearing devices. Only 43% of children who are candidates for cochlear implantation in according to audiological criteria use CI. Since 2012, unilateral cochlear implantation has been carried out for all children in need - their annual number ranges from 25 to 45. Bilateral implantation, mostly sequential with an interval of 1-3 years, was performed in 21% of children The average age at the time of the surgery was 3 years, more than 50% of children were implanted between 1 and 3 years. In recent years, the number of children implanted before 2 years has increased, as well as the number of children implanted at school age. 27% of children with CI continue wearing a hearing aid on the opposite ear. 23% of implanted children have additional disabilities. It has been established that the proportion of children attending mainstream educational institutions is significantly higher among children with CI, compared with children using hearing aids. Some directions have been developed to improve care for CI children and to increase the effectiveness of cochlear implantation as a medical-technical-pedagogical technology for hearing restoration in a regional centre for hearing impaired children.

[On the question of choosing a surgical approach when removing an osteoma of the external auditory canal]

The article presents the results of the surgery treatment of osteomas in external auditory canals of 24 patients. The quantity and the location of osteomas with respect to the tympanic membrane determine a surgical approach. Retroauricular approach (n=19) was applied in cases of multiple osteomas or their close location with the tympanic membrane. Single osteomas located laterally of the isthmus of the external auditory canal were removed with the endaural approach (n=5). The overall follow-up period was 5 years. Postsurgical supervision did not register illness recurrence or any complications such as the trauma of the tympanic membrane or the stenosis of the external auditory canal.

[The effectiveness of the speech therapist and audiologist collaboration during speech processor fitting]

The aim of the study was to present the first clinical experience of clinical trials of new methodology of the CI speech processor fitting with the new software Nucleus Fitting Software - NFS. At all 4 fittings sessions there were 15 children. During the fitting sessions 2 techniques were used - with the new NFS software and classical technique were used. The efficiency and need of collaboration of the speech therapist and the audiologist in the CI fitting sessions is proved. Results of inspection have shown that in 76.6% parents have established emotional cooperation with the children. Most of children have begun to seize the spontaneous speech in natural communication (60% - words, 23.3% - simple phrases). The results received by us allow to recommend the offered technique of the facilitated speech processor fitting technique for widespread introduction in clinical practice.