Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Auditory Brainstem Response and Outer Hair Cell Whole-cell Patch Clamp Recording in Postnatal Rats
Published on: May 24, 2018
Electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses to electrical stimulation at round window membrane in congenitally
Li Chen1, Jun-Ge Zhang1, Jing-Wu Sun2
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China; Wannan Medical College, Anhui Provincial Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China.
Insights
Measuring electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABRs) at the round window membrane (RWM) is more effective than at the round window niche (RWN). Early cochlear implantation improves auditory brainstem pathway function.
Area of Science:
- Auditory Neuroscience
- Neurophysiology
- Otolaryngology
Background:
- Profound sensorineural hearing loss necessitates cochlear implantation (CI) in children.
- Assessing auditory pathway function pre- and post-CI is crucial for treatment efficacy.
- Understanding the impact of deafness duration on neural pathways is vital for auditory rehabilitation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABRs) via round window niche (RWN) and round window membrane (RWM) stimulation.
- To determine how the duration of deafness affects auditory pathway function up to the brainstem level.
Main Methods:
- Ninety-nine children with profound sensorineural hearing loss were grouped by age at CI (≤12 months, 13-36 months, 37-60 months, >60 months).
- eABRs were elicited by electrical stimulation at the RWN and RWM during cochlear implantation surgery.
Main Results:
- RWM stimulation yielded higher eABR extraction rates and lower thresholds compared to RWN stimulation.
- eABR wave III (eⅢ) latencies and eⅢ-eV latency intervals were consistent across all age groups for RWM stimulation.
- Children receiving CI at ≤12 months (Group A) exhibited significantly shorter eABR wave V (eⅤ) latencies.
Conclusions:
- Electrical stimulation at the RWM provides a more stable and sensitive measure of auditory pathway function than RWN stimulation.
- The upper brainstem auditory pathway appears more susceptible to long-term deafness, as indicated by eⅤ latency.
Objectives:
To investigate the usefulness of measuring the electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (eABRs) to electrical stimulation at the round window niche (RWN) and round window membrane (RWM) and the effect of deafness duration on functions of the auditory pathway to the level of the brainstem.
Methods:
According to the age at cochlear implantation (CI), 99 children with profound sensorineural hearing loss were divided into four groups: ≤12 months (group A), 13-36 months (group B), 37-60 months (group C) and >60 months (group D). The eABRs were evoked by electrical stimulation at RWN and RWM during the operation of CI.
Results:
The higher eABR extraction rate and lower threshold for RWM stimulation was found than those for RWN stimulation. The eⅢ latencies and eⅢ-eⅤ latency intervals for RWM stimulation were similar among four groups. However, children with earlier CI (group A) showed a significantly shorter eⅤ latency than others.
Conclusion:
The eABR evoked by the electrical stimulation at RWM is more stable and sensitive compared with that at RWN for evaluating functions of the auditory conduction pathway. Development in the upper brainstem pathway may be more vulnerable to long-term deafness as revealed by the eⅤ latency.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:13The Cochlea
01:15Auditory Pathway
When viewed cross-sectionally, the cochlea reveals the scala vestibuli and scala tympani flanking...