ECochG function for monitoring residual hearing
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluation of electrocochleography for the monitoring of residual hearing
IRAS ID
214480
Contact name
Dan Jiang
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 6 months, 1 days
Research summary
Cochlear Implants (CIs) can provide deaf individuals the ability to hear. CIs are electronics packages inserted into the cochlea (hearing organ). An external processor digitises sound and transmits it to the implant. An electric stimulus from the implant mimics the change in electrical potential normally caused by the movement of hair cells in the cochlea caused by sound. This change generates an impulse along the auditory nerve to the brain resulting in perception of sound.
CIs are available in the UK to people who have profound hearing loss. The improvement of CI technology means individuals with less significant losses, or profound losses at only some pitches may now benefit from a CI over a hearing aid. Patients having useful residual hearing has led to interest in better preserving that hearing during surgery. Thus allowing benefit from traditional acoustic amplification in addition to electrical stimulation from the implant.
We propose recording a measurement via the implant during surgery and at audiology appointments called a cochlear microphonic using a technique called electrocochleography (ECochG). This is essentially recording the electrical signal generated by the movement of hair cells in the cochlea in response to a sound. It is hypothesised that reduction of this signal during implantation may correspond to cochlea damage occurring and that with development this signal might be useful feedback for surgeons. The signal is known to be correlated to actual hearing ability so a better understanding of this may allow us to fit the acoustic amplification portion of implants in individuals who are unable to respond reliably to a normal hearing test.
The purpose of this study is a pilot to assess the correlation between observed changes in this signal during surgery and residual hearing loss post-operatively and the degree correlation between recordings of this signal post-operatively and actual hearing test results.
REC name
London - Surrey Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/LO/1648
Date of REC Opinion
31 Oct 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion