Changes in Acoustic Absorbance Pre- and Post-Cochlear Implantation.

Until recently, there has been little investigation on the effects of cochlear implantation on the transmission of acoustic stimuli through the middle-ear system. Recent studies have shown that cochlear implantation decreases low-frequency acoustic absorbance, consistent with a stiffer middle-ear system postsurgery. The objectives of this study are (a) to investigate the time course of changes in acoustic absorbance post-cochlear implantation in the implanted ear and (b) to compare changes in acoustic absorbance between implanted and nonimplanted ears over time.