[Electrically evoked auditory nerve compound action potentials in Nucleus CI24M cochlear implant users].
OBJECTIVE
To study the feasibility and clinical applicability of electrically evoked auditory nerve compound action potentials (ECAP) in young patients with Nucleus CI24M cochlear implants.


METHODS
ECAPs have been recorded from 37 Nucleus CI24M cochlear implant users in response to monopolar electrical stimulation of the cochlea by using the neural response telemetry(NRT) software and the hardware. Behavioral thresholds and maximum comfortable levels were measured in 12 of those patients.


RESULTS
ECAPs could be recorded in 87.6% of all patients. Good relations were observed between ECAP threshold and behavioral threshold, but poor relations between ECAP threshold and the impedance of different electrodes. We also observed growth functions and threshold variations of ECAP across subjects for a given place as well as across electrodes within a subject. These findings might be that these particular physiological measures are related to the number of living neural fibers and the excitability of the auditory nerve to electrical stimulation.


CONCLUSIONS
ECAPs were proved to be useful in adjusting the stimulation parameters of the cochlear implant speech processor in order to maximize an individual's performance with the device, especially in young children.
Zhu
Xiaoli
X
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing 100730.
Cao
Keli
K
Pan
Tao
T
Yang
Hua
H
Wang
Yi
Y
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013686:Telemetry