Stapedial reflection electrically evoked as an objective method in the programming of cochlear implant in pediatric population

Abstract

Introduction: The electrically evoked stapedial reflex (ESRT) is a valuable clinical tool for determining hearing thresholds in users of cochlear implants (IC). Objective: To determine the benefits of IC programming by obtaining the ESRT as an objective method to identify M levels in the pediatric population. Material and method: A cross-sectional study evaluated 107 pediatric patients implanted with 6 months or more use. 55 patients were included in the inclusion criteria. They were performed clinical history, tympanometry, ESRT and by free field audiometry, before and after programming modifications according to M levels obtained by ESRT were performed. Results: of the M threshold was performed by obtaining ESRT in 48 patients (87.27%). When comparing the previous audiometry with the increase in UC that triggered ESRT, a mean increase in UC was obtained: In patients with normal hearing of 12.98 UC, superficial hearing loss of 22.28 UC and with average hearing loss of 37.03 UC. In the audiometry performed after the modifications of UC based on the ESRT, normal hearing was found in 100% of the patients modified with this tool. Conclusion: It has been shown that reliable thresholds are obtained through the ESRT at the M level, so its use in pediatric patients shortens the time to achieve normal hearing thresholds and language acquisition in an optimal time.