Neural Recovery Function of the Auditory Nerve in Cochlear Implant Surgery: Comparison between Prelingual and Postlingual Patients

Abstract

Introduction Cochlear implants (CIs) enable objective measures of the neural function in implanted patients through the measurements of the neural response telemetry (NRT) and of the Auditory nerve Recovery Function (REC). These measurements help in programming the speech processor and understanding the auditory system. Objective To compare the NRT and the REC in prelingual and postlingual implanted patients. Methods An observational, descriptive and prospective study was carried out. The NRT and the REC (through the T0, A, and tau parameters) were evaluated in individuals submitted to CI surgery, who were divided into two groups: prelingual and postlingual patients. Results In total, 46 patients were evaluated. Data analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the NRT measurements and the T0, A, and Tau of the REC in the comparison between the two groups, except for the NRT in the basal cochlear region. Conclusion There was no statistically significant difference in the REC in pre- and postlingual patients.

The Assessment of Electrode-Neuron Interface (ENI) in Cochlear Implant Users

“…However, the relative refractory period was longer in people with longer duration of hearing loss [39,42]. There was no difference in the temporal recovery of the auditory nerve between pre-and postlingual CI users [43].…”

Perspective Chapter: Cochlear Implant Activation in the Immediate Postoperative Period at the Operating Room

“…We believe that our patients found it easy to detect the sound and even to recognize it, because they had all post-lingual hearing loss and already wore a CI in one ear or hearing aids. We have previously studied pre-and postlingual differences in programming elsewhere [22]. It was possible to observe with Map 2, level "C" at the NRT threshold, a higher percentage of detection and recognition of Ling sounds when compared to Map 1.…”