Impact of Electric Stimulation on Residual Hearing

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (08) ◽  
pp. 732-740 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret T. Dillon ◽  
Andrea L. Bucker ◽  
Marcia C. Adunka ◽  
English R. King ◽  
Oliver F. Adunka ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Electric Stimulation ◽  
Bone Conduction ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Listening Experience

Background: Candidacy criteria for cochlear implantation are expanding to include patients with substantial low-to-mid frequency hearing sensitivity. Postoperative hearing preservation has been achieved in cochlear implant recipients, though with variable outcomes. Previous investigations on postoperative hearing preservation outcomes have evaluated intraoperative procedures. There has been limited review as to whether electric stimulation influences hearing preservation. Purpose: The purpose of this analysis was to evaluate whether charge levels associated with electric stimulation influence postoperative hearing preservation within the first year of listening experience. Research Design: Retrospective analysis of unaided residual hearing and charge levels. Study Sample: Twenty-eight cochlear implant recipients with postoperative residual hearing in the operative ear and at least 12 mo of listening experience with electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS). Data Collection and Analysis: Assessment intervals included initial cochlear implant activation, initial EAS activation, and 3-, 6-, and 12-mo postinitial EAS activation. A masked low-frequency bone-conduction (BC) pure-tone average (PTA) was calculated for all participants at each assessment interval. Charge levels for each electrode were determined using the most comfortable loudness level and pulse width values. Charge levels associated with different regions of the electrode array were compared to the change in the low-frequency BC PTA between two consecutive intervals. Results: Charge levels had little to no association with the postoperative change in low-frequency BC PTA within the first year of listening experience. Conclusions: Electric charge levels do not appear to be reliably related to the subsequent loss of residual low-frequency hearing in the implanted ear within the first year of EAS listening experience.

Preservation of residual hearing following cochlear implantation: comparison between three surgical techniques

2007 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 246-252 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Berrettini ◽  
F Forli ◽  
S Passetti
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Electrode Arrays ◽  
Electrode Insertion

AbstractThe preservation of residual hearing is becoming a high priority in cochlear implant surgery. It allows better speech understanding and ensures long-lasting and stable performance; it also allows the possibility, in selected cases, of combining electro-acoustic stimulation in the same ear.We present the results of a retrospective study of the conservation of residual hearing in three different groups of patients who had undergone cochlear implantation using three different cochlear implant electrode arrays, combined with three different surgical techniques for the cochleostomy. The study aimed to evaluate which approach allowed greater preservation of residual hearing.The best residual hearing preservation results (i.e. preservation in 81.8 per cent of patients) were achieved with the Contour Advance electrode array, using the Advance Off-Stylet technique and performing a modified anterior inferior cochleostomy; this combination enabled reduced trauma to the lateral wall of the cochlea during electrode insertion.

scholarly journals Preservation of residual hearing after cochlear implant surgery with slim modiolar electrode

2019 ◽  
Vol 277 (2) ◽  
pp. 367-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matti Iso-Mustajärvi ◽  
Sini Sipari ◽  
Heikki Löppönen ◽  
Aarno Dietz
Keyword(s):  
Low Frequency ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Insertion Depth ◽  
Cochlear Implant Surgery ◽  
Computed Tomography Scans ◽  
Electric Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Speech Recognition In Noise

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the insertion results and hearing preservation of a novel slim modiolar electrode (SME) in patients with residual hearing. Methods We retrospectively collected the data from the medical files of 17 patients (18 ears) implanted with a SME. All patients had functional low frequency hearing (PTA (0.125–0.5 kHz) ≤ 80 dB HL). The insertion results were re-examined from the postoperative cone-beam computed tomography scans. Postoperative thresholds were obtained at the time of switch-on of the sound processors (mean 43 days) and at latest follow-up (mean 582 days). The speech recognition in noise was measured with the Finnish matrix sentence test preoperatively and at follow-up. Results The mean insertion depth angle (IDA) was 395°. Neither scala dislocations nor tip fold over were detected. There were no total hearing losses. Functional low-frequency hearing was preserved in 15/18 (83%) ears at switch-on and in 14/17 (82%) ears at follow-up. According to HEARRING classification, 55% (10/18) had complete HP at switch-on and 41% (7/17) still at follow-up. Thirteen patients (14 ears) were initially fitted with electric–acoustic stimulation and seven patients (8 ears) continued to use it after follow-up. Conclusions The preliminary hearing preservation results with the SME were more favorable than reported for other perimodiolar electrodes. The results show that the array may also be feasible for electro-acoustic stimulation; it is beneficial in that it provides adequate cochlear coverage for pure electrical stimulation in the event of postoperative or progressive hearing loss.

scholarly journals Extra- and Intracochlear Electrocochleography in Cochlear Implant Recipients

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 339-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Dalbert ◽  
Flurin Pfiffner ◽  
Christof Röösli ◽  
Konrad Thoele ◽  
Jae Hoon Sim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Middle Ear ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Postoperative Phase ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Middle Ear Effusion ◽  
Cochlear Function ◽  
Ear Effusion

Objective: To monitor cochlear function by extra- and intracochlear electrocochleography (ECoG) during and after cochlear implantation and thereby to enhance the understanding of changes in cochlear function following cochlear implantation surgery. Methods: ECoG responses to acoustic stimuli of 250, 500 and 1,000 Hz were recorded in 9 cochlear implant recipients with presurgical residual hearing. During surgery extracochlear ECoG recordings were performed before and after insertion of the cochlear implant electrode array. After insertion of the electrode array, intracochlear ECoG recordings were conducted using intracochlear electrode contacts as recording electrodes. Intracochlear ECoG recordings were performed up to 6 months after implantation. ECoG findings were correlated with findings from audiometric tests. Results: Extra- and intracochlear ECoG responses could be recorded in all subjects. Extracochlear ECoG recordings during surgery showed moderate changes. Loss or reduction of the ECoG signal at all three frequencies did not occur during cochlear implantation. During the first week following surgery, conductive hearing loss, due to middle ear effusion, led to a decrease in intracochlear ECoG signal amplitudes. This was not attributable to changes of cochlear function. All persistent reductions in ECoG response magnitude after normalization of the tympanogram occurred during the first week following implantation. Thresholds of ECoG signals were at or below hearing thresholds in all cases. Conclusion: Gross intracochlear trauma during surgery appears to be rare. In the early postoperative phase the ability to assess cochlear status by ECoG recordings was limited due to the regular occurrence of middle ear effusion. Still, intracochlear ECoG along with tympanogram recordings suggests that any changes of low-frequency cochlear function occur mainly during the first week after cochlear implantation. ECoG seems to be a promising tool to objectively assess changes in cochlear function in cochlear implant recipients and may allow further insight into the mechanisms underlying the loss of residual hearing.

scholarly journals Hearing Preservation in Cochlear Implant Surgery

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Priscila Carvalho Miranda ◽  
André Luiz Lopes Sampaio ◽  
Rafaela Aquino Fernandes Lopes ◽  
Alessandra Ramos Venosa ◽  
Carlos Augusto Costa Pires de Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implantation ◽  
Surgical Techniques ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Electrode Design ◽  
High Frequency Region ◽  
Electric Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
New Treatment

In the past, it was thought that hearing loss patients with residual low-frequency hearing would not be good candidates for cochlear implantation since insertion was expected to induce inner ear trauma. Recent advances in electrode design and surgical techniques have made the preservation of residual low-frequency hearing achievable and desirable. The importance of preserving residual low-frequency hearing cannot be underestimated in light of the added benefit of hearing in noisy atmospheres and in music quality. The concept of electrical and acoustic stimulation involves electrically stimulating the nonfunctional, high-frequency region of the cochlea with a cochlear implant and applying a hearing aid in the low-frequency range. The principle of preserving low-frequency hearing by a “soft surgery” cochlear implantation could also be useful to the population of children who might profit from regenerative hair cell therapy in the future. Main aspects of low-frequency hearing preservation surgery are discussed in this review: its brief history, electrode design, principles and advantages of electric-acoustic stimulation, surgical technique, and further implications of this new treatment possibility for hearing impaired patients.

scholarly journals Current Research with Cochlear Implants at Arizona State University

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (06) ◽  
pp. 385-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael F. Dorman ◽  
Anthony Spahr ◽  
Rene H. Gifford ◽  
Sarah Cook ◽  
Ting Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
National Institutes Of Health ◽  
State University ◽  
Arizona State University ◽  
Listening Environments

In this article we review, and discuss the clinical implications of, five projects currently underway in the Cochlear Implant Laboratory at Arizona State University. The projects are (1) norming the AzBio sentence test, (2) comparing the performance of bilateral and bimodal cochlear implant (CI) patients in realistic listening environments, (3) accounting for the benefit provided to bimodal patients by low-frequency acoustic stimulation, (4) assessing localization by bilateral hearing aid patients and the implications of that work for hearing preservation patients, and (5) studying heart rate variability as a possible measure for quantifying the stress of listening via an implant.The long-term goals of the laboratory are to improve the performance of patients fit with cochlear implants and to understand the mechanisms, physiological or electronic, that underlie changes in performance. We began our work with cochlear implant patients in the mid-1980s and received our first grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for work with implanted patients in 1989. Since that date our work with cochlear implant patients has been funded continuously by the NIH. In this report we describe some of the research currently being conducted in our laboratory.

scholarly journals Low-Frequency Hearing Preservation With Long Electrode Arrays: Inclusion of Unaided Hearing Threshold Assessment in the Postoperative Test Battery

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret T. Dillon ◽  
Emily Buss ◽  
Brendan P. O'Connell ◽  
Meredith A. Rooth ◽  
English R. King ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Electrode Arrays ◽  
Hearing Sensitivity ◽  
Hearing Thresholds ◽  
Electric Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Initial Activation

Purpose The goal of this work was to evaluate the low-frequency hearing preservation of long electrode array cochlear implant (CI) recipients. Method Twenty-five participants presented with an unaided hearing threshold of ≤ 80 dB HL at 125 Hz pre-operatively in the ear to be implanted. Participants were implanted with a long (31.5-mm) electrode array. The unaided hearing threshold at 125 Hz was compared between the preoperative and postoperative intervals (i.e., initial CI activation, and 1, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after activation). Results Eight participants maintained an unaided hearing threshold of ≤ 80 dB HL at 125 Hz postoperatively. The majority ( n = 5) demonstrated aidable low-frequency hearing at initial activation, whereas 3 other participants experienced an improvement in unaided low-frequency hearing thresholds at subsequent intervals. Conclusions CI recipients can retain residual hearing sensitivity with fully inserted long electrode arrays, and low-frequency hearing thresholds may improve during the postoperative period. Therefore, unaided hearing thresholds obtained within the initial weeks after surgery may not reflect later hearing sensitivity. Routine measurement of postoperative unaided hearing thresholds—even for patients who did not demonstrate aidable hearing thresholds initially after cochlear implantation—will identify CI recipients who may benefit from electric–acoustic stimulation. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.11356637

Hearing Preservation with the Slim Modiolar Electrode Nucleus CI532® Cochlear Implant: A Preliminary Experience

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 317-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Ramos-Macías ◽  
S.A. Borkoski-Barreiro ◽  
J.C. Falcón-González ◽  
A. Ramos-de Miguel
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Randomized Study ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Flexible Electrode ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Sydney Australia

As the indications for cochlear implant have expanded to include younger patients and individuals with greater degrees of residual hearing, increasing emphasis has been placed on atraumatic surgery and the preservation of the cochlear structure. Here, a descriptive prospective randomized study was performed. It was shown that residual hearing preservation is possible 12 months postoperatively with an atraumatic perimodiolar flexible electrode array CI532® (Cochlear Ltd, Sydney, Australia). Residual hearing preservation, considered as < 15 dB, was obtained in 70% of the cases. Better clinical outcomes and performance could be obtained compared with the previous perimodiolar CI512®, but further research and a longer follow-up are necessary to verify the impact of outcomes.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Intracochlear Trauma Caused by Insertion of Cochlear Implant Electrode Arrays through Different Quadrants of the Round Window

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graziela de Souza Queiroz Martins ◽  
Rubens Vuono Brito Neto ◽  
Robinson Koji Tsuji ◽  
Eloisa Maria Mello Santiago Gebrim ◽  
Ricardo Ferreira Bento
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Round Window ◽  
Electrode Array ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Round Window Membrane ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Electrode Arrays ◽  
Minimal Trauma ◽  
Electrode Insertion ◽  
Temporal Bones

Hypothesis. This study aimed to evaluate whether there is a difference in the degree of intracochlear trauma when the cochlear implant electrode arrays is inserted through different quadrants of the round window membrane.Background. The benefits of residual hearing preservation in cochlear implant recipients have promoted the development of atraumatic surgeries. Minimal trauma during electrode insertion is crucial for residual hearing preservation.Methods. In total, 25 fresh human temporal bones were subjected to mastoidectomy and posterior tympanotomy. The cochlear implant electrode array was inserted through the anterosuperior quadrant of the round window membrane in 50% of the bones and through the anteroinferior quadrant in the remaining 50%. The temporal bones were dehydrated, embedded in epoxy, serially polished, stained, viewed through a stereomicroscope, and photographed with the electrode arraysin situ. The resulting images were analyzed for signs of intracochlear trauma.Results. Histological examinations revealed varying degrees of damage to the intracochlear structures, although the incidence and severity of intracochlear trauma were not influenced by the quadrant of insertion.Conclusions. The incidence and severity of intracochlear trauma were similar in all samples, irrespective of electrode array insertion through the anterosuperior or anteroinferior quadrant of the round window membrane.

Hearing Preservation Cochlear Implants: A Review of Potential Mechanisms of Hearing Loss After Implantation

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 54-63
Author(s):  
Conor Kelly ◽  
Lina A. J. Reiss
Keyword(s):  
Hearing Loss ◽  
Cochlear Implants ◽  
High Frequency ◽  
Music Perception ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Lateral Wall ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Acoustic Stimulation ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Wide Range

Hearing preservation cochlear implants (CIs) are specifically designed to preserve residual low-frequency acoustic hearing for use together with electrically stimulated high-frequency hearing. This combined electro-acoustic stimulation (EAS) provides a promising treatment option for patients with severe high-frequency hearing loss, but with some residual low-frequency hearing, and has been shown to improve speech perception, especially in background noise, music perception, and sound source localization. Thus, preservation of residual hearing should be a priority in treatment. Although residual low-frequency hearing is successfully preserved to varying degrees in many patients, some patients experience a loss of residual hearing following implantation. A wide range of potential causes of, or contributors to, loss of residual hearing in EAS CI users have been proposed. In this paper, we review the evidence for several of the proposed causes of hearing loss with EAS CI. We conclude that its etiology is likely a multifactorial, heterogeneous phenomenon. Furthermore, we suggest that studies to further elucidate effects of ischemia on lateral wall function and maintenance of endocochlear potential in the context of EAS CI implantation and use are needed.

scholarly journals Monitoring of the Inner Ear Function During and After Cochlear Implant Insertion Using Electrocochleography

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 233121651983356 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Haumann ◽  
Marina Imsiecke ◽  
Günther Bauernfeind ◽  
Andreas Büchner ◽  
Victor Helmstaedter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cochlear Implant ◽  
Inner Ear ◽  
Pure Tone ◽  
Hearing Threshold ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Hearing Preservation ◽  
Residual Hearing ◽  
Research Software ◽  
Electrode Insertion

To preserve residual hearing during cochlear implant (CI) surgery, it is desirable to use intraoperative monitoring of inner ear function (cochlear monitoring), especially during electrode insertion. A promising method is electrocochleography (ECochG). Within this project, the relations between ongoing responses (ORs), recorded extra- and intracochlearly (EC and IC), and preservation of residual hearing were investigated. Before, during, and after insertion of hearing preservation electrodes, intraoperative ECochG recordings were performed EC using a cotton wick electrode and after insertion also IC using the CI electrode (MED-EL) and a research software tool. The stimulation was delivered acoustically using low frequency tone bursts. The recordings were conducted in 10 adult CI recipients. The amplitudes of IC ORs were detected to be larger than EC ORs. Intraoperative EC thresholds correlated highly to preoperative audiometric thresholds at 1000 Hz, IC thresholds highly at 250 Hz and 500 Hz. The correlations of both intraoperative ECochG recordings to postoperative pure tone thresholds were low. When measured postoperatively at the same appointments, IC OR thresholds correlated highly to audiometric pure tone thresholds. For all patients, it was possible to record ORs during or directly after electrode insertion. Consequently, we conclude that we did not observe any cases with severe IC trauma. Delayed hearing loss could not be predicted with our method. Nevertheless, intraoperative ECochG recordings are a promising tool to gain further insight into mechanisms impacting residual hearing. Postoperatively recorded IC OR thresholds seem to be a reliable tool for frequency specific hearing threshold estimation.

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