Cochlear implants for patients undergoing vestibular schwannoma removal or labyrinthectomy

Cochlear Implantation During Vestibular Schwannoma Removal or During Labyrinthectomy Surgery for Treatment of Meniere's Disease

NA · Ohio State University · NCT03795675

This study is testing if cochlear implants can help people who are having surgery for vestibular schwannoma or labyrinthectomy due to Meniere's disease hear better after they lose hearing on one side.

Quick facts

PhaseNA
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment15 (estimated)
Ages18 Years to 70 Years
SexAll
SponsorOhio State University (other)
Locations1 site (Columbus, Ohio)
Trial IDNCT03795675 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical study aims to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of cochlear implants in patients who are undergoing surgery for vestibular schwannoma or labyrinthectomy due to Meniere's disease. Participants will receive a cochlear implant after their surgical procedure, as they will experience deafness on the surgical side. The study will assess the outcomes of these implants over time, particularly focusing on speech perception and overall auditory function. This approach represents a new application of an already approved device for a specific patient population.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma or Meniere's disease who are scheduled for surgery and can have their auditory nerve preserved.

Not a fit: Patients with bilateral vestibular schwannomas or Meniere's disease, or those unable to preserve the auditory nerve during surgery, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a new treatment option for patients with single-sided hearing loss following specific surgical procedures.

How similar studies have performed: While cochlear implants are commonly used for bilateral hearing loss, this specific application for patients undergoing these surgeries is novel and has not been extensively tested in prior studies.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Have a diagnosis of a vestibular schwannoma confirmed by a physician with an MRI and/or CT scan; Or have a diagnosis of Meniere's disease by a physician
* Be scheduled to undergo surgery to remove the vestibular schwannoma through translabyrinthine approach; Or be scheduled to undergo a labyrinthectomy
* Be English-speaking due to objective speech perception tasks. Non-English speakers may show a reduced speech perception score due to language differences
* For patients undergoing tumor removal, tumor removal must allow preservation of the auditory division of the VIIIth cranial nerve

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subjects with bilateral Meniere's disease or bilateral vestibular schwannomas
* Inability to preserve the auditory division of the VIIIth cranial nerve during removal of vestibular schwannoma
* Ossification or fibrosis of the cochlear found on preoperative imaging (CT or MRI) that precludes cochlear implantation
* Active middle ear disease
* Greater than 70 years of age
* Vestibular schwannoma greater than 2 cm
* Patient refusal of receiving pneumococcal vaccine
* Any contra-indication(s) for undergoing surgery.

Where this trial is running

Columbus, Ohio

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Vestibular Schwannoma, Meniere Disease, Cochlear implants

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.