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.

Keywords: Neural Response Telemetry [NRT], Behavioral levels (T- and C-level), Nucleus 24 cochlear implant system