Jason Brandt, M.D., FACS
Associate Professor
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Vestibular Consequences of Cochlear Implantation: From Unilateral to Bilateral
Cochlear implantation is one of the most successful neural prostheses in medicine, yet its impact on vestibular function remains an underappreciated clinical concern. This talk will provide an overview of vestibular physiology and its assessment, examine the evidence linking sensorineural hearing loss to balance dysfunction, and review the current literature on vestibular outcomes following cochlear implantation. As bilateral implantation becomes the standard of care, the cumulative risk of vestibular loss in the second ear raises important questions about the balance between auditory benefit and vestibular preservation. We will explore how ongoing research in bilateral hearing and spatial processing informs clinical decision-making for these patients.