Question: A 76 year old male underwent unilateral cochlear implantation for progressive sensorineural hearing loss 6 years ago. He returns noting that the sound quality from his device has gradually gotten worse. He has tried replacing batteries and the sound processor to no avail. Impedance measurements show open circuits on the basal 5 electrodes of the array; measurements were normal 1 year prior. What is the next step in evaluation?

a) CT of the temporal bone

b) Explant the device

c) Reprogramming of the basal 5 electrodes

d) MRI brain

[Answer will be posted with next week's new question]

Answer to last week's question, “Feed Me” (April 13, 2020)

C - Sphenopalatine.