Single electrode maps in device troubleshooting

This article presents case studies in which single-channel mapping was used with patients who were experiencing discomfort while using their cochlear implant devices. Repeated psychophysical testing together with integrity testing had failed to locate the source of the problem in each of the described cases. Single-channel mapping was then used as another means of device troubleshooting. Single-channel maps were created for each electrode across the array. In each case, the patient was able to identify the offending electrode(s) during the presentation of speech stimuli, whereas the problem had not been evident during psychophysical testing with pulse stimuli. Eliminating these electrodes from the map alleviated the problems experienced by these implant users in each case.