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Fourth International Symposium and Workshops: Objective Measures in Cochlear Implants

Medical University of Hannover

01.06. bis 04.06.2005, Hannover

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Programming of Infants and Young Children Using A Behaviorally–Based Method and Two NRT–Based Methods

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  • corresponding author R. Kaplan-Neeman - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Department of Communication Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine,Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan
  • Y. Henkin - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Department of Communication Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine,Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan
  • Z. Yakir - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan
  • F. Bloch - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan
  • R. Taitelbaum-Swead - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Department of Communication Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine,Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan
  • M. Berlin - Tradis-Gat for Cochlear Corporation, Petah-Tikva
  • J. Kronenberg - Department of Otolaryngology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center,Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan
  • C. Muchnik - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Department of Communication Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine,Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan
  • M. Hildesheimer - Speech and Hearing Center, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center and Department of Communication Disorders, Sackler Faculty of Medicine,Tel Aviv University, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat-Gan

Medical University of Hannover, Department of Otolaryngology. Fourth International Symposium and Workshops: Objective Measures in Cochlear Implants. Hannover, 01.-04.06.2005. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2005. Doc05omci049

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/omci2005/05omci049.shtml

Published: May 31, 2005

© 2005 Kaplan-Neeman et al.
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en). You are free: to Share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work, provided the original author and source are credited.

Outline

Text

Introduction

Programming of the speech processor requires the determination of threshold (T) levels and comfortable (C) levels which is often difficult in infants and young children. In recent years the use of objective measures was found to assist in the programming process. In the Nucleus 24 CI system, it has been shown that the NRT (neural response telemetry) measurements were well correlated with behaviorally obtained measurements. The purpose of the present study was to compare MAPs, sound-field aided thresholds and speech perception abilities in three groups of children that were programmed using: a behavioral- based method, that relies solely on behavioral responses, and two NRT- based methods.

Materials and Methods

Seventeen congenitally deaf children at the age of 12-39 months (mean age: 25 months) implanted with the Nucleus 24R(CS) cochlear implant participated in the study. Intra-operative NRT measurements were performed in all children, thereafter, the group was randomly divided into three: group 1: programmed using behavioral responses only (n=5),  group 2: programmed using the Progressive Preset Maps method (Novy and Almquist, 2001), (n=5), group 3: programmed using the Smoorenburg method (Smoorenburg et al, 2002), (n=7). MAP parameters as well as sound field aided thresholds and speech perception abilities were compared among the groups at consecutive programming sessions: one, three, six, and 12 months post-connection.

Results

Different MAP profiles were evident after one month of implant use: group’s 1 MAP profiles were flat whereas groups 2 and 3 showed lower T and C levels at the basal and apical ends. Although group 3 showed lower T and C levels compared to groups 1 and 2, sound-field aided thresholds were comparable among the groups.

Conclusions

Despite the above described differences among groups, sound-field aided threshold and speech perception abilities were comparable among the groups by 12 months post-connection.