Comparison of eSRTs and comfort levels in users of Digisonic SP cochlear implants.

OBJECTIVE

This project proposes to assess the relation between the electrical stapedius reflex threshold (eSRT) and comfort levels in users of the Digisonic SP cochlear implant.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study, where eSRTs are compared to the comfort current levels at 2 weeks and at 1-year post-fitting in a group of 11 adults getting a significant improvement in open set speech recognition from a Digisonic SP cochlear implant.

RESULTS

The linear relation between eSRTs and comfort levels results in Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.65 (P < 0.01; at 2 weeks) to 0.60 (P < 0.05; at 1 year). The comfort levels can be predicted from the eSRTs for the Digisonic SP device from the model equation C level = 19.12 + 0.41*eSRT within a clinically acceptable margin of error.

DISCUSSION

Reflex thresholds could be obtained in most participants, and in most channels of the Digisonic implant. The equation model appears as a quite reliable predictor of comfort levels for users of this device.