The relationship between electrical auditory brainstem responses and perceptual thresholds in Digisonic® SP cochlear...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Determining electrical stimulation levels for cochlear implants is challenging, especially in pediatric patients.
• Behavioral methods are time-consuming and can be difficult for children.
• Existing objective measures like stapedius reflex and compound action potential can overestimate C- and T-levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the reliability of the evoked auditory brainstem response (eABR) for estimating C- and T-levels.
• To assess the correlation between eABR detection thresholds and behavioral perceptual thresholds.
• To explore the potential of eABR Wave-V amplitude for estimating loudness perception.

Main Methods:

• Measured eABR detection thresholds in participants.
• Correlated eABR thresholds with behaviorally determined perceptual thresholds.
• Analyzed eABR Wave-V amplitude in response to varying stimulation levels.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant correlation (r=0.71, P<0.001) was found between eABR detection thresholds and behavioral perceptual thresholds.
• eABR Wave-V amplitude increased with increasing electrical stimulation levels.
• eABR detection thresholds accurately estimated T-levels.

Conclusions:

• The eABR detection threshold is a reliable objective measure for estimating T-levels in cochlear implant users.
• eABR Wave-V amplitude shows potential for future estimation of C-levels.
• eABR offers a promising objective method for cochlear implant fitting, particularly for pediatric populations.