Cochlea Implants stimulate the auditory nerve. However some patients experience limitations
during fitting of their Cochlea Implant (CI) due to unintended costimulation of the
facial nerve. One option to reduce neural costimulation is the application of triphasic
pulse stimulation instead of traditionally prefered biphasic stimulation.
Fourteen CI patients received a triphasic fitting map instead of a biphasic fitting
map due to previous diagnosed facial nerve stimulation, stimulus induced vertigo or
pain, during the years 2014 – 2017.
Biphasic and triphasic fitting maps were compared. To assess the effects of the switch
questionaries and hearing test (monosyllables and sentences in noise test) were used.
The triphasic pulse stimulation showed a significant reduction of unintended side
effects and allowed, in most cases, an improved quality of life. The understanding
of speech with cochlea implant did not change significantly. In some cases an improvement
was visible.
Triphasic pulse stimulation has a benefital effect in CI-patients with unintended
neural costimulation and should be regarded as a valuable tool during cochlea implant
fitting.
