Electric Auditory Brainstem Response Audiometry in Cochlear Implants: New Recording Paradigm

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cochlear implants (CIs) restore hearing for severe to profound hearing loss.
• Electrically evoked auditory brainstem response (E-ABR) assesses CI function.
• E-ABR can be recorded from different cochlear regions (apical, middle, basal).

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare E-ABR recordings from individual CI channels versus combined adjacent channels.
• To evaluate the reliability and efficiency of different E-ABR recording methods.
• To investigate the correlation between E-ABR amplitude and current level in combined recordings.

Main Methods:

• Included 17 children with unilateral cochlear implants.
• Performed impedance measurement, ECAP, and E-ABR recordings from apical, middle, and basal channels.
• Compared individual channel E-ABR with simultaneous separated and adjacent combined channel recordings.

Main Results:

• E-ABR latencies and amplitudes were similar across individual and combined recording methods.
• Combined adjacent channel E-ABR amplitudes positively correlated with applied current levels.
• No compromise in E-ABR results was observed with combined recording techniques.

Conclusions:

• Combined E-ABR recording from adjacent channels is a faster and more reliable technique.
• This method can be effectively utilized in clinical settings.
• Adjacent channel E-ABR recording provides valid and comparable results to individual channel recordings.