Abstract
With patients aged one year and younger considered for cochlear implantation, it is important to assess the suitability of an ear for implantation by preoperatively determining its electrical excitability. In a previous publication (Kileny et al., 1994), we described a technique to preoperatively obtain electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (EABR) with transtympanic stimulation. This procedure is typically carried out in the operating room under general anaesthesia and neuromuscular blockade. Stimuli are delivered by a needle electrode placed transtympanically on the cochlear promontory. A custom-designed battery-operated stimulator requiring a trigger pulse from an evoked potential system is used to deliver the signal. This stimulator is capable of delivering biphasic pulses with an output limit of 999 μA. Pulses have a typical duration of 200 μs per phase and the EABR is recorded with a contralateral ear reference. In our clinic, we perform pre/perioperative transtympanic EABR on all patients who meet the following criteria:
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