Electrically evoked auditory potentials: comparison between transtympanic promontory and round-window stimulations.
OBJECTIVE
Electrically evoked auditory potential (eEAP) techniques have been developed in order to assess electrical excitability of auditory nervous pathways in deaf patients before cochlear implantation. The aim of this study was to compare eEAPs recorded after a transtympanic promontory stimulation with those obtained after a round-window stimulation during a surgical approach.


METHODS
eEAPs were recorded after promontory and round-window stimulation in 10 deaf subjects (i.e. 14 ears) who were candidates for cochlear implantation.


RESULTS
eEAPs were successfully recorded in 13 out of 14 (93%) and 11 out of 14 (79%) ears after promontory stimulation and round-window stimulation, respectively. Similar waveforms, latencies, thresholds and eV amplitudes were observed in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Both tests provide objective and useful information for the patient selection process before cochlear implantation. Transtympanic stimulation should be preferred in clinical practice as it is less invasive than round-window stimulation and does not require surgical exposure.
Sauvaget
Elisabeth
E
Service d'ORL et de chirurgie cervico-faciale, Hôtel-dieu, Nantes, France. esauvaget@netcourrier.com
Péréon
Yann
Y
Nguyen The Tich
Sylvie
S
Bordure
Philippe
P
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004566:Electrodes; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014432:Tympanic Membrane / Q000502:physiology