Changes over time of the refractory properties measured from ECAP in Pulsa CI100 cochlear implant recipients

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this work is to present a longitudinal study of the refractory properties of the population of neurons involved in the generation of the evoked compound action potential (ECAP).

Materials and Methods: The refractory properties of 12 subjects implanted with the Med-El Pulsar CI100 cochlear implant system have been examined by recording and analyzing ECAP responses collected under the masker-probe paradigm.

Results: Our preliminary results show a statistically significant decrease of the refractory period and a statistically significant increment of the amplitudes of the ECAP responses after 3 months of cochlear implant experience.

Conclusion: The evolution of the parameters describing ECAP responses reveals a decrease of the refractory period and an increment of the amplitudes associated to the use of the cochlear implant system. These changes take place in the first 3 months after the first switch-on of the cochlear implant processor and after this time the refractory period and the amplitudes tend to be stable.