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Updated: May 24, 2026
Electrically Evoked Stapedius Reflex Measurements in Cochlear Implantation and Its Application in the Postoperative Fitting Process
Published on: June 21, 2024
Intra- and postoperative electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds in children with cochlear implants
Elif Baysal1, Erkan Karatas, Murat Deniz
1Gaziantep University, Medical Faculty, Otolaryngology Department, Turkey. baysalelif@yahoo.com
Insights
Intraoperative electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds (eSRTs) in pediatric cochlear implant users did not correlate with postoperative measurements. These findings suggest intraoperative eSRTs cannot predict early outcomes after cochlear implantation.
Area of Science:
- Audiology
- Neurosurgery
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cochlear implants (CIs) are vital for pediatric hearing restoration.
- Electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds (eSRTs) assess auditory nerve function.
- Predicting postoperative CI outcomes is crucial for managing pediatric patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between intraoperative and postoperative eSRTs in children with CIs.
- To determine if intraoperative eSRTs can predict early postoperative auditory nerve function.
Main Methods:
- Sixty-five pediatric CI users with congenital prelingual hearing loss were studied.
- Intraoperative and postoperative eSRTs were measured using CI electrodes.
- Paired-sample t-tests analyzed the correlation between intra- and postoperative eSRTs.
Main Results:
- A statistically significant difference was found between intraoperative and postoperative eSRTs.
- No significant correlation was identified between intraoperative and postoperative eSRTs.
Conclusions:
- Intraoperative eSRT measurements are not predictive of early postoperative eSRTs in pediatric CI users.
- Clinical decisions should not solely rely on intraoperative eSRT values.
Objectives:
The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a significant correlation between intra- and postoperative electrically evoked stapedius reflex thresholds (eSRTs) in children with cochlear implants.
Methods:
Sixty-five pediatric cochlear implant users were included in this study. All patients had congenital prelingual hearing loss. The round window approach was used in all patients. The eSRTs were intraoperatively measured using the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 12th electrodes of the cochlear implant. The measurements taken during the first fitting of the device were taken again one month after surgery. We used paired-sample t-tests to determine the correlation between intra- and postoperative eSRTs.
Results:
The eSRT analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between the intra- and postoperative thresholds. A correlation analysis did not reveal any correlation between intra- and postoperative eSRTs.
Conclusion:
Intraoperative eSRT measurements were unable to predict early postoperative eSRTs.
