Stimulation from Cochlear Implant Electrodes Assists with Recovery from Asymmetric Perceptual Tilt: Evidence from the Subjective Visual Vertical Test.
Vestibular end organ impairment is highly prevalent in children who have sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) rehabilitated with cochlear implants (CIs). As a result, spatial perception is likely to be impacted in this population. Of particular interest is the perception of visual vertical because it reflects a perceptual tilt in the roll axis and is sensitive to an imbalance in otolith function. The objectives of the present study were thus to identify abnormalities in perception of the vertical plane in children with SNHL and determine whether such abnormalities could be resolved with stimulation from the CI. Participants included 53 children (15.2 ± 4.0 years of age) with SNHL and vestibular loss, confirmed with vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) testing. Testing protocol was validated in a sample of nine young adults with normal hearing (28.8 ± 7.7 years). Perception of visual vertical was assessed using the static Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) test performed with and without stimulation in the participants with cochleovestibular loss. Trains of electrical pulses were delivered by an electrode in the left and/or right ear. Asymmetric spatial orientation deficits were found in nearly half of the participants with CIs (24/53 [45%]). The abnormal perception in this cohort was exacerbated by visual tilts in the direction of their deficit. Electric pulse trains delivered using the CI shifted this abnormal perception towards center (i.e., normal; p = 0.007). Importantly, this benefit was realized regardless of which ear was stimulated. These results suggest a role for CI stimulation beyond the auditory system, in particular, for improving vestibular/balance function.
Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada; The Institute of Medical Science, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada.
Joshua J
JJ
Gnanasegaram
Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada.
William J
WJ
Parkes
Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada.
Sharon L
SL
Cushing
Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick Children Toronto, ON, Canada.
Carmen L
CL
McKnight
Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada; The Institute of Medical Science, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada; Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada.
Blake C
BC
Papsin
Archie's Cochlear Implant Laboratory, Department of Otolaryngology, The Hospital for Sick ChildrenToronto, ON, Canada; The Institute of Medical Science, University of TorontoToronto, ON, Canada.
Karen A
KA
Gordon
cochlear implant; electric stimulation; otolith; pediatric; spatial perception; subjective visual vertical; vestibular
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