Cochlear Implants Restore Hearing in Long‑Term Chronic Otitis Media Patients, Study Finds

Researchers at Seoul Asan Medical Center's otolaryngology department reported that cochlear implant surgery can effectively restore hearing even in individuals who have suffered more than 20 years of hearing loss due to chronic otitis media. The team, led by Professor Park Hong‑ju, compared pre‑ and post‑operative auditory performance of acquired chronic otitis media patients with that of typical sensorineural hearing loss patients. One year after implantation, both groups demonstrated similarly high levels of hearing ability, indicating that long‑term chronic otitis media does not preclude successful cochlear implant outcomes. Chronic otitis media is an inflammatory condition of the middle ear that can lead to prolonged hearing impairment. Despite the duration of hearing loss, patients in the study retained relatively stable word‑recognition function, which contributed to the favorable surgical results.