 Since then, the Institute has been regarded as the world's foremost private research institute for otology and hearing science.House Ear Institute's historical advancements in hearing sciences include the development of the first clinically useful cochlear implant and auditory brainstem implant as well as the introduction of the first the middle cranial fossa and then the translabyrinthine approach for removal of acoustic neuromas.The translabyrinthine approach uses the operating microscope and reduced mortality rates from 40% (in California) to less than 1%.