Cochlear implantation has been proven to be a reliable aural reh Cochlear implantation has been proven to be a reliable aural reh abilitation abilitation treatment option for bilaterally, profoundly deaf patients. Mos treatment option for bilaterally, profoundly deaf patients. Mos t patients t patients evaluated for cochlear implant have a normal, disease free middl evaluated for cochlear implant have a normal, disease free middl e ear. e ear. Individuals with this common presentation are implanted with a s Individuals with this common presentation are implanted with a s ingle ingle staged operation. Profound deafness can be caused by chronic staged operation. Profound deafness can be caused by chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). These patients present the suppurative otitis media (CSOM). These patients present the otolaryngologist with a more complex treatment dilemma, the oppo otolaryngologist with a more complex treatment dilemma, the oppo rtunity rtunity for postoperative complications and device failure. It was prev for postoperative complications and device failure. It was prev iously iously thought that cochlear implantation was contraindicated in an ear thought that cochlear implantation was contraindicated in an ear with with CSOM and/or cholesteatoma. Feared complications include recurre CSOM and/or cholesteatoma. Feared complications include recurre nce of nce of middle ear/mastoid disease, device extrusion, and intracranial middle ear/mastoid disease, device extrusion, and intracranial complications (i.e. meningitis). Despite the assumed risks with complications (i.e. meningitis). Despite the assumed risks with implanting implanting patients with chronic ear disease, cochlear implants have been patients with chronic ear disease, cochlear implants have been successfully placed in this population. The success of this pro successfully placed in this population. The success of this pro cedure is cedure is dependent on the establishment of a disease free ear. dependent on the establishment of a disease free ear.