Correlation of Electrophysiological and Behavioral Response in Cochlear Implant Candidates

Objective: To determine the effect of Cochlear Implants on electrophysiological and behavioural response in children with hearing impairment at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Study Design: Cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi Pakistan, from Jul 2021 to Jul 2022. Methodology: Seventy children with hearing impairment aged 2-12 years of either gender, who had undergone cochlear implantation were part of the study. Language and hearing conditions were examined during the audiological assessment of candidates for cochlear implantation. At ER-tone 5A and TDH-39 using ISO 389-2 and 389-1 calibrations, warble tones given at different frequencies were used to derive behavioral air conduction thresholds. The Auditory Steady State Response test began with a carrier frequency of 500 Hz and advanced to frequencies of 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Thresholds were set using a 10 dB down and 5 dB up procedure until no responses could be captured. Behavioral and Auditory Steady State Response responses were noted in all patients. Results: Mean age of the patients was 6.66±2.74 years. Behavioral threshold>110 dB HL were obtained in 8(11.4%) subjects, 10(14.3%) had behavioral thresholds from 100 to 110 dB HL, and 52(74.3%) had <100 dB HL. Eleven patients obtained Auditory Steady State Response thresholds>110 dB HL (15.7%), 31(44%) achieved 100 to 110 dB HL and 28(40%) achieved <100 dB HL. The most common frequency was 500 Hz. Statistically insignificant difference was found between ....... Conclusion: Cochlear implantation has positive effect on behavioral and ...