Abstract:
For many young and/or prelingually deaf children, programming the speech processor of the cochlear implant and identifying malfunctioning electrodes or internal device failures can be difficult. Electrophysiologic recording techniques can be used to address both issues. The electrically evoked auditory brain-stem response (EABR) can be used to assist in device programming. Data describing the relationship between EABR threshold and behavioral measures of threshold and maximum comfort level for a group of 26 Nucleus cochlear implant users will be reviewed. Electrophysiologic techniques can also be used to record the stimulus artifact associated with activation of the Nucleus device. This response has been called the average electrode voltage (AEV) and has proven to be useful in identifying cases where there is total failure of the internal components of the Nucleus cochlear implant as well as diagnosing malfunction of individual electrodes. Normative data collected using three different stimulation modes from a group of 20 Nucleus cochlear implant users will be presented., Examples of commonly observed abnormal AEV recordings will be described and compared with AEVs recorded using an internal Nucleus electrode array submerged in a saline tank. [Work supported by NIH and the Iowa Lions Foundation.]