Objective: To develop a preoperative objective test of auditory nerve
function for the assessment of cochlear implant candidacy, especially
in children. Patients and Methods: We stimulated electrically with a b
all electrode before insertion of the implant. First the stimulus was
applied bipolar between the promontory and the round window. To record
auditory brain stem responses (EABRs) very high stimulus intensities
were needed, which was not possible in all patients. Results: By stimu
lation in the basal turn of the cochlea, evoked potentials could be de
rived. Although in some patients the facial nerve was stimulated as a
side effect, auditory evoked potentials could be recorded. A facial mu
scle artifact can be differentiated from the EABRs by latency and the
slope of the input-output function. Conclusion: For the present, the o
nly reliable test seems to be the EABR recording stimulated within the
cochlea.