The history of cochlear implantation: From volta to multichannel-intracochlear stimulation

Cochlear implants (CI) are the established treatment of choice for cochlear deafness since the Consensus Conference in 1995. Cochlear implants are the first substitute of the auditory sensory organ, being able to stimulate a neural pathway after complete loss of the perceptor organ. Presently, more than 30 000 patients are using a Cl device worldwide. The use of an electronic inner ear prosthesis has become a routine method in the ENT practice. However, we tend to forget that only through the immense efforts of pioneer researchers cochlear implantation has become a safe and efficient therapy for bilateral deafness. The following article gives a sum of cochlear implant history beginning with the pioneer experiences of an acoustic sensation after electrical stimulation and closing at the current state of knowledge and technique that makes open-set speech understanding possible using intracochlear electrical stimulation. In particular, we try to focus on the recurring thoughts of many researchers how to avoid alterations of fine cochlear structures induced by intracochlear implantation.