Int Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2014; 18 - a2292
DOI: 10.1055/s-0034-1388789

Audiometric Thresholds in Patients Multichannel Cochlear Implant Users of the Clinical Hospital of Ribeirão Preto

Carla A. U. Fortunato Queiroz 1, Carla Dias da Silva 1, Eduardo Tanaka Massuda 1, Giovana de Souza Barbeti 1, Miguel Angelo Hippolyto 1
  • 1Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto
  • 2Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo (FMRP-USP)

Introduction: The cochlear implant promotes stimulation of the central auditory cortex, which implies the improvement of hearing over time and, thus, a greater number of sounds can be detected. Confirmation of minimum levels of detection can be observed in the responses obtained with a free field audiometry.

Objective: The study aimed to analyze the average hearing thresholds in users of multichannel cochlear implantation at different ages.

Methods: A retrospective study was done by analyzing the records of 228 users of multichannel cochlear implant. The sample was divided into two groups according to age: GI (17 years and 11 months) and GII (18-66 years). The data collected were: age at surgery, duration of CI use, and thresholds in the free field.

Results: The GI group corresponds to 68% of the sample group, and GII 32%. The average threshold in free field for the two groups was 35 dBNA. For the GI group, the mean age at the time of surgery was 6 years and 8 months and the mean duration of CI use was 3 years and 10 months. The average age at the time of surgery for GII was 35 years and mean duration of CI use was 4 years and 2 months.

Conclusion: The results show that the detection of sounds of medium and low intensity is possible for the majority of implanted adult and child subjects.