Studying Electrical Stapedial Reflex Thresholds to Improve Comfort Settings in Cochlear Implants for Children Aged 8 to 17

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are investigating how electrical stapedial reflex thresholds eSRTs relate to subjective comfort levels C-subjective in programming cochlear implants, especially for young children or those with additional health conditions. Programming cochlear implants requires setting lower and upper stimulation levels for each electrode, but many patients find it hard to judge comfort levels using traditional loudness scales. eSRTs offer a more objective way to estimate comfortable upper stimulation levels and may improve implant programming. The study involves measuring electrically evoked stapedial reflexes and electric compound action potentials ECAPs in patients with cochlear implants. Audioprosthetists adjust the implant settings using eSRTs during routine hospital visits, creating a new MAP based on these thresholds. Speech audiometry and speech perception in noise tests are performed under both the current and eSRT-based settings, with the order randomized. A follow-up visit one month later evaluates speech performance and implant usage for those with different comfort thresholds between the two settings. Participants are children aged 8 to 17 years who have used cochlear implants for at least one year and communicate primarily in French. They attend two visits involving hearing tests, implant adjustment, and speech evaluations. Researchers collect data on comfort levels, speech recognition, and implant use to compare the eSRT-based and subjective programming methods. The main outcome is the relationship between measured eSRT and current upper stimulation levels, with additional measures of speech performance and device usage monitored over one month.

The Value Electrical Stapedial Reflex Thresholds (eSRTs) Cochlear Implant Mapping