Cochlear implant recipients' hearing sensation as manifested by their maps during pregnancy and postpartum

Ricky Kaplan-Neeman, Minka Hildesheimer, Chava Muchnik, Jona Kronenberg, Lela Migirov*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To investigate possible changes in hearing sensation as manifested in the maps' psychoacoustic parameters, threshold (T), and most comfortable (C/M) levels among cochlear implant (CI) female recipients during pregnancy and after delivery. Setting: University-affiliated tertiary referral center. Design: Retrospective study. Method: Two MedEl device and 3 Nucleus device users' medical records were reviewed for age at the time of implantation, cause of deafness, type of anesthesia used during delivery, and maps' parameters (T and C/M levels) during pregnancy and after childbirth. Results: Two CI recipients underwent uncomplicated cesarean deliveries under spinal anesthesia, and 3 others had natural delivery without anesthesia. There were no changes in map values during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period in 4 of 5 CI recipients. Only 1 CI recipient showed significant increase in T levels that was resolved after she completed breastfeeding 3 months postdelivery. Conclusion: The elevation in T levels might indicate that pregnancy and delivery can result in some temporary reversible changes in hearing sensation manifested by map levels of CI users.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)923-925
Number of pages3
JournalOtology and Neurotology
Volume31
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2010

Keywords

  • Cochlear implantation
  • Pregnancy

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