Anatomy-Based Fitting in Cochlear Implants: Potential for Optimizing Postoperative Outcomes: A Pilot Study.

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate whether there is a difference in frequency parameters between anatomy-based fitting (ABF) using a preoperative CT scan and clinically based fitting (CBF).

Study design: Monocentric retrospective registry study.

Setting: Tertiary academic medical center.

Patients: 23 CI recipients between 2004 and 2021.

Interventions: CI.

Main outcome measures: Comparison between frequency maps: CBF versus ABF. The frequency parameters used for ABF were estimated based on preoperative CT scans and implanted electrodes.

Results: All electrode contact frequencies were significantly different between ABF and CBF maps. When the dataset was manually analyzed, 84% (n = 233) of the predicted electrode location frequencies were outside their allocated frequency band in the clinical fitting map.

Conclusions: Setting the CI filter bank frequencies based on preoperative electrode location estimates could be a useful alternative when postoperative CT or DVT imaging is not feasible or unavailable. This can serve as a good starting point when trying to reduce frequency-to-place mismatch between frequency allocations of the fitting filter bank and the tonotopy of the cochlea.