Integrated profile to assess auditory nerve-auditory pathway integrity.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the Integrated Cochlear Profile for Assessing Auditory Nerve-Auditory Pathway Integrity (ICP-API), as proposed by our group, in the selection of cochlear implant candidates.


METHODS
The API of the candidates for cochlear implantation were assessed with the ICP-API, which consists of 5 categories including: audiological testing; radiological imaging study; ear-canal electric response audiometry; response to environmental sounds; speech development level. The auditory rehabilitation effects of the cochlear implantation receivers were evaluated postoperatively.


RESULTS
Sixty-six of 68 candidates who met the criteria of the ICP-API received cochlear implantation with improved hearing and speech development postoperatively. The remaining 2 of the 68 candidates were diagnosed with bilateral auditory nerves aplasia, and therefore failed cochlear implants were avoided.


CONCLUSIONS
The ICP-API is valuable and feasible for the selection of cochlear implant candidates. The API should be considered as one of the most important criteria for cochlear implant candidate selection.
Kong
Wei-Jia
WJ
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China. wjkong888@yahoo.com
Cheng
Hua-Mao
HM
Wang
Yan-Jun
YJ
Zhang
Su-Lin
SL
Liu
Wei
W
Ma
Hui
H
Han
Ping
P
Kong
Xiang-Quan
XQ
D000293:Adolescent; D001299:Audiometry; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004424:Ear Canal; D005260:Female; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006320:Hearing Tests; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007804:Language Development; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013060:Speech; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed