[Contralateral electrically evoked reflex of the musculus stapedius in patients with cochlear implant]

Registration of electrically evoked reflex is widely applied in rehabilitation of patients by cochlear implantation. As a rule, visual assessment of the ipsilateral reflex is made intraoperatively for functional evaluation of surgical results. Of interest is use of contralateral electrically evoked reflex of the musculus stapedius in the course of adjustment of the speech processor. We studied the latter reflex in 20 patients with cochlear implants Cl24M and Cl22 made by 'Cochlear'. 13 patients used Sprint processors, 7 patients - Spectra ones. Zodiak impedansometer registered the reflex which was recorded in 12 patients. The threshold of the reflex registration correlated well with comfortable perception of loudness. Most of the patients evaluated threshold (for the reflex) sound perception as the sound of moderate loudness. The conclusion is made that registration and analysis of the contralateral electrically evoked reflex can assess a comfortable stimulation level in adjustment of speech processors in patients with cochlear implants.