Exploring the Impact of Cochlear Implant Stimulation Artefacts in EEG Recordings: Unveiling Potential Benefits

TL;DR

This paper investigates how cochlear implant stimulation artefacts in EEG recordings, often seen as a problem, can actually be used beneficially to assess binaural hearing in CI users, especially children.

Contribution

It introduces a novel EEG-based method that leverages CI artefacts to evaluate binaural hearing, turning a common challenge into a useful tool.

Findings

CI artefacts can be used to optimize EEG experiment setup.

Binaural hearing assessment can be performed using artefact analysis.

Pulse rate limits for interaural time difference discrimination identified.

Abstract

Given rising numbers of bilateral cochlear implant (CI) users, predominantly children, there is a clinical need for efficient and reliable tests that can objectively evaluate binaural hearing. These tests are crucial for guiding the setup of bilateral CIs to optimise delivery of binaural cues. Our primary goal is to introduce a clinical electroencephalogram (EEG) procedure to assess binaural hearing function at various stages within the auditory pathway. Previous research demonstrated that bilateral CI users significantly decrease in ability to discriminate interaural time differences when pulse rates exceed 300 pulses per second. Our paradigm utilizes different pulse rates to objectively explore the limits. A notable challenge with this EEG procedure is the interference induced by CI electrical stimulus artefacts. Despite this obstacle, the potential benefits of CI stimulation artefacts often go unnoticed. This paper outlines positive applications of the frequently criticized CI artefacts for optimizing the experiment setup.