Prevalence of Nonauditory Stimulation from Auditory Brainstem Implantation

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Auditory brainstem implants (ABIs) offer hearing restoration for individuals with non-functional auditory nerves.
• Non-auditory stimulation from ABI channels is a frequently observed phenomenon.
• Understanding the prevalence and nature of ABI-induced side effects is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the frequency of side effects associated with different auditory brainstem implant (ABI) portions.
• To investigate the number of active channels in patients with ABI.
• To analyze the prevalence of nonauditory stimulation resulting from ABI usage.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 24 patients (≥15 years) implanted with ABIs at Uppsala University Hospital.
• Extraction of active channel counts from ABI programming software.
• Review of medical records for reported side effects related to ABI use.

Main Results:

• The most frequent side effect reported was ipsilateral leg sensation (20%), followed by throat (14%), face (12%), body (12%), and eye (12%) sensations.
• A statistically significant decrease in the number of active channels was observed between initial and latest fittings for Cochlear implants (P = 0.027).
• Throat stimulation was most commonly linked to the horizontal-lateral portion of the ABI.

Conclusions:

• Side effects from auditory brainstem implants predominantly affect the ipsilateral side of the body, with leg sensations being most common.
• The number of active electrodes in ABI systems tends to decrease over time.
• Specific implant regions, like the horizontal-lateral portion, are associated with particular side effects such as throat stimulation.