Monitoring residual hearing during cochlear implantation by intra-operative brainstem audiometry.

Objective: Aim of this paper is to prove the applicability of intra-operative recordings of auditory brainstem responses during cochlear implantation. Methods: The clinical practicability of intra-operative monitoring of hearing thresholds (Notched-Noise BERA, Amplitude Modulation Following Response [AMFR]) is presented in the respective case. The recordings were performed prior to the cochlear implantation and were compared with those obtained during and after cochlear implantation. Results: It is demonstrated that the patient’s cochlear function can be monitored; residual hearing is available after surgery. Conclusion: The possibility of monitoring of hearing thresholds may add some security to the concept of electric-acoustic stimulation. # 2007 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.