Stapedius reflex threshold in cochlear implant patients.
The contralateral stapedius reflex elicited by sinusoidal electrostimulation via cochlear implant was investigated in 12 patients. Contraction of the middle ear muscle was monitored by time-resolved synchronized digital sampling of the impedance change in the contralateral ear. The reflex was detected in all patients in whom the uncomfortable loudness level (UCLL) could be reached and who had intact middle ear function. Generally, the reflex threshold is located in the upper part of the dynamic range between the most comfortable loudness (MCL) and the UCLL. The demonstrated method may provide suitable assistance in speech processor adjustment in difficult-to-test patients.
Stephan
K
K
Clinic for Hearing, Speech and Voice Disorders, University of Innsbruck, Austria.
Welzl-Müller
K
K
Stiglbrunner
H
H
D000328:Adult; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012022:Reflex, Acoustic; D013198:Stapedius / Q000503:physiopathology*