Threshold monitoring of intraoperative auditory steady-state responses for ossiculoplasty surgery

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this study is to establish a reliable intraoperative auditory threshold monitoring system for ossiculoplasty surgery.

Design: The chirp signal of self-designed sound field earphone (SFE) was calibrated physically and psychophysically. The interaural attenuation of the SFE was tested in patients with unilateral complete deafness and contralateral normal hearing (10 patients). Self-designed SFEs were used to measure the chirp-evoked auditory steady-state responses (Chirp-ASSR) threshold of patients (14 cases and 15 ears) with conductive hearing loss after anesthesia but before surgery.

Results: The response threshold of Chirp-ASSR under anesthesia displayed a strong correlation with the hearing threshold for pure tones: the Pearson coefficients at various frequencies (1, 2, and 4 kHz) were 0.56 (p = .03), 0.82 (p < .001), and 0.90 (p < .001), respectively, and the intragroup correlation coefficients were 0.70 (p = 0.02), 0.90 (p < 0.001), and 0.95 (p < 0.001), respectively. The average test time was 7.0 ± 0.7 min.

Conclusions: By combining Chirp-ASSR with self-designed SFE, we obtained objective multi-frequency intraoperative auditory thresholds that correlate well with the pure tone audiometry threshold. This reliable system can be applied to future intraoperative auditory threshold monitoring for ossiculoplasty surgery.

Chinese abstract

目的：本项研究的目的是建立一个可靠的术中听阈测量系统, 用于骨成形术。

设计：自行设计的声场耳机（SFE）的啁啾信号经过生理和心理生理方式的校准。对单侧完全性耳聋和对侧正常听力患者（10名患者）进行了SFE耳间衰减的测试。自行设计的SFE用于测量麻醉后手术前传导性听力丧失的患者（14个病例, 15只耳）的啁啾诱发听觉稳态响应（Chirp-ASSR）阈值。

结果：Chirp-ASSR在麻醉下的响应阈值与纯音的听力阈值有很强的相关性：不同频率（1,2和4 kHz）下的Pearson系数分别为0.56（p = 0.03）、0.82（p < 0.001）和0.90（p < 0.001）, 组内相关系数分别为0.70（p = 0.02）、0.90（p < 0.001）和0.95（p < 0.001）。平均测试时间为7.0 ± 0.7分钟。

结论：通过将Chirp-ASSR与自行设计的SFE相结合, 我们获得了与纯音测听阈值相关的客观多频率术中听觉阈值。这种可靠的系统可以应用于未来术中听阈的监测。

Keywords:

• Ossicular chain reconstruction
• intraoperative monitoring
• auditory steady-state response
• sound field earphone

Acknowledgements

Z. G. contributed substantially to the conception of this study, is accountable for all aspects of the work, including the accuracy of the results, and approved the final version of the manuscript for publication. Q. L. participated in the design of the study, prepared the materials, conducted the tests, and contributed to the drafting and revision of the manuscript. G. F. made equal contributions to the conception and design of this study, revised the manuscript, and ensured the integrity of every aspect of this work. Y. S. made equal contributions to the design of this study and revised the manuscript. Y. Q. contributed to data collection. C. C. contributed to the design of the local sound field.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.