The Spiral Ganglion in Profound Deafness

The spiral ganglion cell population was evaluated in 41 ears from 29 profoundly deaf patients. In 10 ears 66 to 100 per cent of the spiral ganglion cells remained, in 3 ears 33 to 66 per cent of the cells remained, and in 28 ears less than 33 per cent remained. Tn all of these ears there was severe atrophy of the organ of Corti. When the etiology of the deafness is known it often is possible to predict the condition of the ganglion. An excellent ganglion cell population would be expected if the deafness was due to ototoxic drugs and a severe loss of ganglion if due to bacterial labyrinthitis.