Cochlear implants (CIs) enable hearing via direct electrical stimulation of the spiral ganglion neurons (SGN). Outcomes with a CI depend, in part, on the number and excitability of the SGNs. In an animal model, we introduced the Failure Index (FI) as an electrically-evoked compound action potential (eCAP)-derived marker of cochlear health. The FI informs about the presence, site, and size of SGN lesions....
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
Cochlear implant clinicians using MED-EL devices may find the Failure Index a useful supplementary marker of spiral ganglion neuron health, but retrospective design limits immediate changes to fitting or candidacy protocols pending prospective validation.
Objective markers of neural health could eventually allow more personalized cochlear implant programming and better pre-surgical outcome counseling.
- 01Failure Index is proposed as a proxy measure for spiral ganglion neuron (auditory nerve cell) health in cochlear implant users.
- 02Retrospective design using MED-EL CI users; findings require prospective validation before clinical adoption.
- 03Published in Trends in Hearing (PMID 42621694; DOI 10.1177/23312165261477505).
- 04Better characterization of neural health could inform device programming and candidate selection.
- 05Findings are specific to MED-EL devices and may not generalize to other CI brands.
The Failure Index reflects the neural health profile (spiral ganglion neuron status) in cochlear implant users.
studypartially supportedThe Failure Index can predict cochlear implant outcomes.
studypartially supported- PMID
- 42621694
- DOI
- 10.1177/23312165261477505.
- Journal
- Trends in Hearing
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 4
- Population
- MED-EL cochlear implant users
- Intervention
- Failure Index measurement as a marker of spiral ganglion neuron health
Primary outcomes
Failure Index as a predictor of neural health profile in CI users; Correlation between Failure Index and cochlear implant outcomes