title: Evoked stapedius reflex and compound action potential thresholds versus most comfortable loudness level: assessment of their relation for charge-based fitting strategies in implant users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main goal of the present study was to assess the feasibility of using evoked stapedius reflex (eSR) and evoked compound action potential (eCAP) thresholds to create speech processor programs for children using Med-El Maestro software. The secondary goals were (1) to compare the eSR and eCAP thresholds recorded using charge units in experienced adults fitted with Med-El Pulsar CI100 cochlear implants with most comfortable loudness levels (MCLs) obtained for the apical, medial and basal electrodes, and (2) to compare eSR and eCAP thresholds for the apical, medial and basal electrodes between adults and children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen children and 16 adults participated in the study. eSR and eCAP thresholds were measured in both groups using the auditory nerve response telemetry algorithm, with MCL being behaviourally measured only in the adult group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the adult population, the correlation between eSR threshold and MCL was better for apical, medial and basal electrodes than that between eCAP threshold and MCL. There was no significant difference in the means obtained for eCAP and eSR thresholds in children and adults for any of the electrodes tested. This finding suggests that in children, the correlations between eCAP thresholds and MCL values, and those between eSR thresholds and MCL values are not lower than those generally found in adults.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the eSR threshold is a better predictor of MCL values, both eSR and eCAP thresholds can be useful tools for assisting with map creation for children.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology and Pathology of Hearing, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Walkowiak
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorens
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kostek
authors.forename: Henryk
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Skarzynski
authors.forename: Agata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szkielkowska
authors.forename: Piotr Henryk
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Skarzynski
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000502:physiology*; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D013067:Speech Perception; D013198:Stapedius / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult