B. Almqvist et al., Objective intraoperative method to record averaged electromyographic stapedius muscle reflexes in cochlear implant patients, AUDIOLOGY, 39(3), 2000, pp. 146-152
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.