Objective intraoperative method to record averaged electromyographic stapedius muscle reflexes in cochlear implant patients

We have developed a procedure to measure the averaged stapedius muscle refl ex in response to electrical stimulation (AESR) with a cochlear implant. Th e AESR, as activated by ipsilateral stimulation with a cochlear implant, wa s investigated intra-operatively in a series of 12 children. After the coch lear implant was placed into the cochlea and secured by the surgeon, an ele ctromyographic (EMG) needle electrode was gently placed into the stapedius muscle. During stimulation of the cochlear implant, the stapedius reflex wa s monitored visually (VESR) and as an averaged EMG response (AESR). Consist ent AESRs were obtained in 7 of the 12 children. These measures provide a m ethod to obtain stapedius muscle responses that may be helpful in the progr amming of young children with cochlear implants. Comparative post-operative measures were also obtained, including behavioral threshold levels, behavi oral comfort levels, and the contralateral stapedius reflex threshold (ESR) on selected electrodes.