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Corresponding Author

Elshahat Ibrahem Ismail

Subject Area

Audiology

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in electrical evoked stapedial reflex thresholds (ESRTs) and electrodes impedance over time in children with MED-EL cochlear implants.

Methods

In this study, 60 kids were included, while 15 kids were excluded because their cases did not fit the requirements. Patients who received MED-EL cochlear implants were monitored postoperatively over 5 years to determine whether or not their ESRT and electrode impedance remained stable.

Results

At the initial fitting, electrodes 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 showed significantly different impedances, while electrodes 1, 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, and 12 showed no significantly different impedances. Excluding electrode 12, all electrodes showed a statistically significant difference in ESRT at three and 6 months. All electrodes, except electrodes 7 and 8, showed no difference between ESRT and the behaviorally based MAP most comfortable level (MCL) . After three months, there was a highly significant difference between ESRT and the behavioral MAP for the audiometric frequencies 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz.

Conclusion

Particularly at 3 and 6 months, there was a considerable decrease in electrode impedance, which stabilized throughout the course of the remaining follow-up period. Nearly all the electrodes showed a significant variation in ESRT between 3 and 6 months, but over the subsequent 5 years, ESRT essentially stabilized. Additionally, there was no difference between behavioral-based MAP and ESRT MCL; nevertheless, after 3 months, there was a highly significant difference between ESRT and the behavioral MAP at the 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz audiometric frequencies.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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