Correlation between NRT measurement level and behavioral levels in pediatrics cochlear implant patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between the electrically evoked nerve action potential (Neural Response Telemetry [NRT]) and behavioral levels (T- and C-level) for pediatric patients using the Nucleus 24 cochlear implant system.

Method: A hospital based study of pediatric cochlear implant patients in the period between June 2000 and December 2008. At King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital (KAUH) Saudi Arabia the Neural Response Telemetry was administered to 47 children (mean age at implantation: 4 years) with the Nucleus 24 cochlear implants. Four intra cochlear electrodes (numbers 5, 10, 15, and 20) were tested one-month post-implantation, the neural response threshold compared with the behavioral threshold and the maximum comfort level estimated at the same time.

Results: At all the electrode numbers, the mean for NRT level measurements was significantly higher than that for the T-level measurements and the mean for the C-level measurements was significantly higher than that for NRT level measurements The correlation analyses showed positive correlation between C-level and NRT level measurements and T-level and NRT level measurements.

Conclusion: There was a positive correlation between NRT value measurements and both T and C value measurements. Therefore, it is useful to use the NRT values to predict the behavioral T and C values in prelingual children.