Aim and objectives: This study is designed to compare the Intra Operative Neural Response Telemetry (NRT) results with Post-Operative NRT results of the cochlear implanted children, to assess the importance of Intra Operative NRT thresholds in device activation and/or switch on of the audio processor and to evaluate the importance of Intra and post operative AutoNRT results in predicting behavioural thresholds during mapping of prelingual Cochlear Implanted children.
Materials and methods: A total of thirty (30) children (16 boys, 14 girls) with congenital Bilateral (B/L) severe to profound Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were included in this study. Children between the age range of 12 to 60 months were participated in this study. All the participants were implanted with Nucleus 24 cochlear implant system. In each patient, the intra operative NRT-thresholds were measured for all 22 active electrodes. Then Intra Operative NRT thresholds were correlated with Post-Operative NRT thresholds at the time of switch on and the behavioural map after six months of switch on of the device (Audio Processor).
Results: There is a significant enhancement observed in thresholds of postoperative NRT responses which were raised or absent during intraoperative session. There is a gain in NRT thresholds marked after 6 months of postoperative follow up in comparison with first measurement at the time of Switch On of the device but the change not that significant. During postoperative mapping, there was a significant positive correlation noticed between neural response telemetry level measurements and behavioural threshold level.
Conclusion: Absent or elevated NRT responses during intraoperative testing for some electrodes especially basal electrodes does not mean that electrode is out of order or outside the cochlea, because an improvement in NRT thresholds usually occurs postoperatively. In case of children with congenital B/L severe to profound SNHL, the NRT values have a very useful role in predicting the behavioural thresholds. Combination of NRT values with behavioural thresholds and observations of Auditory Verbal Therapist can help in providing best suitable Map to the recipient.
Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03284-x.
Keywords: Auditory Verbal Therapist; Behavioural Threshold; Cochlear implantation; Intraoperative Neural Response Telemetry; Postoperative.
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