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Delayed changes in auditory status in cochlear implant users with preserved acoustic hearing
Rachel A Scheperle1, Viral D Tejani1, Julia K Omtvedt2
1Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
Hearing Research
|April 23, 2017
Summary
Delayed-onset hearing loss affects 38% of cochlear implant patients. Increased electrode impedance may indicate changes in the intracochlear environment, impacting hearing status post-implantation.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Neuroscience
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Cochlear implants aim to restore hearing but can be associated with changes in auditory status.
- Delayed-onset hearing loss is a potential complication following cochlear implantation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of delayed-onset hearing loss in cochlear implant recipients.
- To explore the relationship between auditory status changes, electrode impedance, and neural responsiveness.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 85 cochlear implant patients with hearing preservation implants.
- Longitudinal assessment of unaided behavioral thresholds, electrode impedance, and electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) amplitude growth functions.
- Categorization of participants based on changes in unaided behavioral thresholds (stable vs. delayed loss).
Main Results:
- 38% of patients experienced delayed-onset hearing loss.
- Increased electrode impedance was observed in patients with precipitous hearing loss, often transiently.
- Impedance changes were significantly larger in the delayed hearing loss group and correlated with behavioral threshold changes.
- ECAP measures did not correlate with behavioral threshold changes, suggesting stable neural responsiveness.
Conclusions:
- Delayed-onset hearing loss is a significant concern in cochlear implant recipients.
- Changes in electrode impedance may reflect alterations in the intracochlear environment.
- Further research is needed to determine the etiology of delayed-onset hearing loss post-implantation.
Keywords:
Cochlear implantElectrically evoked compound action potentialElectrode impedanceHearing preservation
