[The "Ineraid" multichannel cochlear implant].

In Geneva from 1985 to November 1990, we have implanted 21 Ineraid TM multichannel-cochlear implants in 18 totally deaf patients. On the basis of our experience we have divided the patients in 2 categories: optimal cases and difficult cases. Optimal cases had post lingual deafness and adequate anatomical conditions for implantation. They all recovered understanding of free running speech without lip-reading. Difficult cases had ossified cochlea or pre-and-perilingual deafness: results are variable and less predictable. The cochlear implant is both an artificial sense organ and a prosthetic device. With the aid of the prothesis the patient can hear. When the processor stops functionning the patient is again totally deaf. Implanted deaf patients require life-long technical and medical support.