[Cochlear implantation in patients with auditory neuropathy assisted by intra-operative EABR and the therapeutic effect evaluation].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the pathological position of auditory neuropathy and investigate the hearing and speech rehabilitation results of cochlear implantation in patients with auditory neuropathy.

METHOD

In our hospital, among the patients received cochlear implantation, 8 cases with auditory neuropathy were selected, and 8 cases of non-auditory neuropathy patients with profound deafness were selected as matched control group with the background close to the study group. The preoperative hearing data of these two groups were retrospectively analyzed. During operation, the homemade stimulation electrodes were inserted to test the electric evoked auditory brainstem response(EABR) for assessing the auditory pathway; EABR and neural response telemetry(NRT) were tested after implantation, and T, C value were acquired 1 month later. CAP, SIR and speech recognition rate were used to assess hearing and speech rehabilitation effect 12 months after booting.

RESULT

Intra-operative EABR wave can be derived in 8 cases of auditory neuropathy, but the wave pattern exhibited variations compared with normal wave. It needed increased stimulation or adjusted parameters, with variable V latency. After cochlear implantation, the waveforms of NRT and EABR were similar between the two groups, and the post-operative V waveform was close to the intra-operative EABR. 8 pairs of patients can present listening response after booting. There was no statistically significant difference in T, C value, CAP (6.50 +/- 0.94 and 6.90 +/- 0.77) and speech recognition rate (85.00% +/- 11.66% and 89.50% +/- 9.02%) between the auditory neuropathy group and the control group 1 year after booting.

CONCLUSION

Pre-operative EABR can be used as an effective tool to assess the auditory pathway of auditory neuropathy patients, improving the pre-operative examination and helping with selecting the suitable cochlear implant patient. Cochlear implantation can help patients with auditory neuropathy to improve hearing and speech.