One-Year Results of the Banded Neural Response Imaging Study

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between single-channel and banded neural response imaging (NRI) responses and to evaluate whether banded NRI measurements are better correlated to fitting parameters than single-channel NRI measurements. PATIENTS: Nineteen profoundly deaf subjects implanted with a HiRes 90K cochlear implant from Advanced Bionics Corporation (Valencia, CA). INTERVENTION(S): Neural response imaging thresholds (tNRIs; single-channel and banded tNRIs) were measured intraoperatively; at first fitting; and after 3, 6, and 12 months of implant use. Relationships between those measurements and correlations between those measurements and implant program parameters were investigated. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Single-channel and banded tNRI collected at each measurement session. RESULTS: Banded NRI could be recorded reliably and was not more time-consuming than the routine single-channel NRI. Significant correlations (Pearson R; p < 0.05) were observed between first-fitting banded tNRI and most comfortable levels at 12 months, with a higher level of significance than the correlations observed with single-channel tNRI. CONCLUSION: Banded NRI may be a more appropriate fitting tool than single-channel NRI. However, the sample size was small, and more data are necessary to confirm these findings.