Throughout the life of the project, we have complied with the established schedule. The development of a vestibular cochlear implant has allowed 10 patients with deafness and bilateral vestibular dysfunction to significantly improve their quality of life. Allowing, in some cases, to go from depending on another person for their daily activities to being totally independent.
During the clinical study, we were able to observe that, in addition to improving balance, electrical stimulation provided other benefits that have opened up new possibilities and avenues of research not directly related to vertigo, and could benefit other patients with other types of neurosensory disorders.
This will contribute to the opening of new research projects and provides new information to what we already knew about electrical stimulation and its application in neurology and neurootology.
The results of our project have been widely recognised and valued both nationally and internationally and also by patients themselves following the improvement in quality of life they have experienced. To date, we have disseminated our findings through the following media:
• Interviews and articles in local media, such as Canarias 7 and La Provincia, which have reached both general audiences and the scientific community.
• Scientific conferences and presentations, both national and international, where we have shared our findings and techniques with thousands of medical professionals, scientists and students.
• We established collaborative relationships with other research groups and obtained additional funding for a new project that will broaden our focus to include patients with hearing but suffering from vertigo/vestibular dysfunction.
To further exploit our results, we plan to:
• Continue to collaborate with other researchers to improve and refine our otolithic organ electrical stimulation system, optimising its therapeutic benefits and safety.
• Develop specific and personalised treatment protocols for patients with bilateral vestibular dysfunction, thereby maximising clinical outcomes.
• To broaden our international outreach, participating in congresses and conferences on otorhinolaryngology in general and/or neurootology in particular and establishing collaborations with medical and scientific institutions around the world.
In summary, our project has revolutionised the treatment of vertigo and bilateral vestibular dysfunction. The positive clinical impact has translated into a significant improvement in patients' quality of life. Our research has provided an in-depth understanding of the neurophysiological responses to otolithic stimulation and has paved the way for future developments in this and related fields. The dissemination strategy has generated a high degree of awareness and collaboration, laying the groundwork for future research that will benefit patients worldwide.
