title: Assessment of responses to cochlear implant stimulation at different levels of the auditory pathway.
abstract: This paper reviews characteristics of both the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and analogous measures of cortically evoked responses (CAEP) to electrical stimulation in cochlear implant users. Specific comparisons are made between the two levels of processing for measures of threshold, growth of responses with increasing stimulus level, changes in stimulation electrode and, finally, in temporal response properties. The results are interpreted in a context that ECAPs primarily reflect the characteristics of the electrode-neural interface for an individual ear. CAEPs clearly are dependent on those peripheral responses but also reflect differences in central processing among individual implant users. The potential applicability of combined measures in clinical situations is discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled <Lasker Award>.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, I A, USA. Electronic address: paul-abbas@uiowa.edu.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Abbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, I A, USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001303:Auditory Cortex / Q000503:physiopathology; D001306:Auditory Pathways / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003056:Cochlear Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005072:Evoked Potentials, Auditory; D006801:Humans; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors