Author/Editor     Battelino, Saba; Zupančič, Janez; Žargi, Miha
Title     Results of electroaudiometry with respect to the duration of hearing loss
Type     članek
Source     In: Butinar D, editor. Proceedings of the Symposium on electrophysiology of hearing with the 15th dr. Janez Fangel memorial lecture; 1999 Oct 8-9; Ljubljana. Ljubljana: Institute of clinical neurophysiology, Hospital for neurology,
Publication year     1999
Volume     str. 41-5
Language     eng
Abstract     Disturbed communication with the surroundings and difficulties in self perception render deafness one of the most severe perception disorders. Until 1960, there had been no method available to surmount a severe sensorineural hearing loss and deafness. The development and later routine clinical use of cochlear implants rendered the rehabilitation of auditoiy perception in patients with a sensory hearing loss (hair cell damage) at preseived function of the upper auditory pathways possible. Electroaudiometry (EAM) is one of the investigation methods by means of which we try to assess functioning of the auditory pathways and the patient's ability to percept an auditory stimulus through the newly established auditory pathway. Using an electrode inserted into the external ear canal, electric impulses are conducted along the auditory pathway all the way to the cerebral cortex. During the procedure we try to determine the voltage of electric current needed to evoke auditory sensation in the patient. In the view of the known fact that dysfunctional perceptive pathways in the central nervous system gradually deteriorate, we were interested to find out what happens to an auditory pathway in the case of congenital deafness or in patients with years-lasting postlingual hearing loss. The values of EAM were compared with the duration of hearing loss in 30 patients. Based on the findings of the statistical method of linear logistic regression and clinical experience, we can conclude that the duration of hearing loss does not inlluence the preservation of auditory pathway function as assessable by EAM.
Descriptors     AUDIOMETRY
HEARING LOSS, BILATERAL
DEAFNESS
COCHLEAR IMPLANT