Auditory neuropathy: unexpectedly common in a screened newborn population.

Auditory neuropathy, or dyssynchrony, is defined by an abnormal or absent auditory brainstem response but intact otoacoustic emissions or cochlear microphonics. It is associated with impaired hearing on behavioural pure-tone audiometry, absent acoustic reflexes, and poor speech perception, particularly in noisy environments. These results suggest a disorder of inner hair-cell and or eighth-nerve function.

Retrospective study of intra-operative testing with the Nucleus CI24M cochlear implant and use of the back-up device.

The combined use of integrity testing (IT) and impedance telemetry (ImTe) intra-operatively is evaluated. One hundred and fifty children implanted with the Nucleus device were studied. In 81% of patients, normal results were obtained on all electrodes from both ImTe and IT.

Cochlear implants: 100 pediatric case conversions from the body worn to the nucleus esprit 22 ear level speech processor.

Objective: To assess performance of Nucleus 22 mini system pediatric users converted from the Spectra 22 body-worn to the ESPrit 22 ear-level speech processor using aided thresholds and speech discrimination measures before and after the conversion.

Study Design: Spectra 22 body-worn speech processor users were chosen using preselection criteria (stable map, ability to report on the quality of the signal, no device problems). The subjects underwent tuning, map conversion, fitting of the ESPrit 22, and aided soundfield threshold and speech discrimination testing.

Intra-operative recordings of electrically evoked auditory nerve action potentials in young children by use of neural response telemetry with the nucleus C124M cochlear implant.

The electrically evoked action potential (EAP) was recorded intra-operatively by use of neural response telemetry (NRT) on the Nucleus C124M cochlear implant. The aim of the present study was to investigate the EAP in young children immediately following implant surgery and whilst the children were still anaesthetized. The effect of data collection parameters on the reliability of the EAP was assessed and the relationships of the EAP findings to the intra-operative electrical auditory brainstem response (EABR) and early behavioural threshold levels (T-levels) were also investigated.

Early experience with the cochlear ESPrit ear-level speech processor in children.

The ESPrit ear-level speech processor has recently become available in the United Kingdom for use with the Nucleus CI24M multichannel cochlear implant. We report on the use of this ear-level processor with 6 children, ages 8 to 15 years. In this study, all patients were initially fitted with the SPrint body-worn processor, this being a prerequisite for programming the ESPrit.