Chronic electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve at high rates: II. Cochlear pathophysiology [Abstract]

This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 16th Annual Australian Neuroscience Meeting, Adelaide, 28-31 January 1996.This is a publisher’s version of an abstract of a paper from the Proceedings of the Australian Neuroscience Society 1996, published by Australian Neuroscience Society.A major factor in the improved performance of cochlear implant patients has been the use of high stimulus rate speech processing strategies. While these strategies show clear clinical advantage, we know little of their long-term safety. Indeed, recent studies have indicated that high stimulus rates at intensities above clinical limits, can result in neural damage as a result of prolonged neuronal hyperactivity. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of chronic electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve at high rates, using intensities within clinical limits