Intracochlear Electrocochleography and Speech Perception Scores in Cochlear Implant Recipients

Objectives/Hypothesis Previous studies have demonstrated that electrocochleography (ECochG) measurements made at the round window prior to cochlear implant (CI) electrode insertion can account for 47% of the variability in 6-month speech perception scores. Recent advances have made it possible to use the apical CI electrode to record intracochlear responses to acoustic stimuli. Study objectives were to determine 1) the relationship between intracochlear ECochG response amplitudes and 6-month speech perception scores and 2) to determine the relationship between behavioral auditory thresholds and ECochG threshold estimates. The hypothesis was that intracochlear ECochG response amplitudes made immediately after electrode insertion would be larger than historical controls (at the extracochlear site) and explain more variability in speech perception scores. Study Design Prospective case series. Methods Twenty-two adult CI recipients with varying degrees of low-frequency hearing had intracochlear ECochG measurements made immediately after CI electrode insertion using 110 dB SPL tone bursts. Tone bursts were centered at five octave-spaced frequencies between 125 and 2,000 Hz. Results There was no association between intracochlear ECochG response amplitudes and speech perception scores. But, the data suggest a mild to moderate relationship between preoperative behavioral audiometric testing and intraoperative ECochG threshold estimates. Conclusion Performing intracochlear ECochG is highly feasible and results in larger response amplitudes, but performing ECochG before, rather than after, CI insertion may provide a more accurate assessment of a patient's speech perception potential. Level of Evidence 4 Laryngoscope, 2021