ABA Cochlear Implants & Implantable Hearing Devices 3

Question 1

Bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA/OSIA) are most appropriate for which type of hearing loss?

Accepted Answer

Conductive or mixed hearing loss, or single-sided deafness

Answer

Bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss with no cochlear nerve

Answer

Mild high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss

Answer

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD)

Question 2

During the cochlear implant evaluation process, which professional is typically responsible for device programming (mapping)?

Accepted Answer

Audiologist certified in CI programming

Answer

Otolaryngologist (ENT surgeon)

Answer

Speech-language pathologist

Answer

Occupational therapist

Question 3

What is 'residual hearing preservation' in the context of contemporary cochlear implantation?

Accepted Answer

Using surgical techniques and electrode designs that minimize cochlear trauma to preserve low-frequency acoustic hearing post-implant

Answer

Maintaining the patient's contralateral hearing aid fitting

Answer

Preserving the ossicular chain during mastoidectomy

Answer

Monitoring audiometric thresholds at annual follow-ups post-activation

Question 4

The primary reason cochlear implant electrodes are designed to be placed as close as possible to the modiolus (perimodiolar design) is to:

Accepted Answer

Reduce current spread and improve frequency selectivity by being closer to the spiral ganglion neurons

Answer

Prevent electrode migration toward the apex

Answer

Increase the impedance of each electrode contact

Answer

Facilitate easier surgical removal if needed

Question 5

Which outcome measure is most commonly used to assess speech perception benefit in adult cochlear implant recipients in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant (CNC) word recognition in quiet

Answer

Ling 6-Sound Test

Answer

Hearing in Noise Test (HINT)

Answer

Pure-tone audiogram with CI

Question 6

Auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) is characterized by which audiologic finding that may still support cochlear implant candidacy?

Accepted Answer

Present otoacoustic emissions (OAEs) with absent or abnormal auditory brainstem response (ABR)

Answer

Absent OAEs with a normal ABR

Answer

A flat conductive hearing loss with normal tympanogram

Answer

Bilateral absent acoustic reflexes with normal OAEs and normal ABR

Question 7

When counseling a family about cochlear implant outcomes for a child with bilateral profound SNHL, which prognostic factor is most strongly associated with better spoken language outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Earlier age at implantation (ideally before 12 months)

Answer

Brand of cochlear implant device used

Answer

Number of active electrodes in the array

Answer

Use of FM systems in the classroom