Comparison of the Objective Measures and Behavioral Responses in Cochlear Implant Users Implanted with CI422: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between the eSRT and eCAP thresholds with the behavioral comfortable levels in CI users implanted with CI422.

Materials and Methods: There were 10 CI user included in the study with mean age at evaluation 20.47. five electrodes were selected from different regions of cochlea for comparison. For these five electrodes, behavioral C levels were determined with Custom Soundâ 5.2 Fitting Software and eCAP and eSRT thresholds were obtained with Custom Soundâ EP 5.2.

Results: Correlations analysis was done between behavioral C levels and eSRT or eCAP separately. For E22, behavioral C level was positively correlated with eSRT (r=.772; p= .009; p<.01). However, there was no correlational relation with eCAP. For E1, behavioral C level was positively correlated with both eSRT (r=0.785; p=.007; p< .01) and eCAP (r=0.812; p=.004; p<.01). there was not any correlational relation between eSRT and eCAP except E1. Behavioral C levels was compared with ECAP and ESRT with related-samples Wilcoxon test. Behavioral C levels for all electrodes are statistically significantly different from eSRT levels.

Conclusion: This study is the first study that investigates the objective measures and behavioral method in adults with CI422 implants. Both eCAP and eSRT can be used in CI fitting but eSRT levels are significantly higher than the behavioral C levels. In order to provide adequate stimulation the combination of the objective measures and behavioral methods was considered to be the best option.

Keywords

• Cochlear implants,hearing loss,cochlear implantation,electric stimulation,auditory threshold

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