09-13, 08:00–09:00 (Europe/Istanbul), Hearing Implant 3
Research and clinical interest in cochlear implant (CI) electrode impedance have evolved significantly throughout 2024 and 2025. The current focus has shifted from simple "functionality checks" to using impedance as a sophisticated biomarker for the internal environment of the cochlea. In CIs, electrode impedance measurement plays a role in optimizing power requirements, establishing electrode integrity, and determining electrical stimulation parameters such as the pulse duration, pulse amplitude, and stimulation rate. Any changes in impedance levels may indicate issues with the electrodes and/or cochlear implants, such as short circuits, open circuits, or damaged devices. Long-term use of the device may lead to a reduction in its efficiency in delivering electrical current to the surrounding cochlear tissues, resulting in an increase in impedance and decreased implant effectiveness. Therefore, it is saliently important to perform follow-up examinations post-implantation to investigate potential changes in the electrical impedance of cochlear implants over time. On the other hand, early activation results in decrease of impedance and better voltage transmission across electrodes. This of course will improve the outcome performance of CI. Impedance Voltage Matrix an emerging tool provide a deeper insight on the electrode neural interface at each electrode. Different electrode impedance models are developing to be integrated into clinical practice using the standard software. All detailed related updates will be highlighted in the roundtable.
To increase the awarness of the advanced models of electrode impedance in CI programming and monitoring the device integrity through the software without the need of expensive radiology studies
Prof. Dalia was graduated with Bachelor of medicine & surgery distinction with first degree honor from Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. Internship and Residency period was in the Audiology unit, ORL Dept. The doctoral degree in Audiology was a joint project with the hereditary hearing loss laboratory University of Antwerp, Belguim. It was the first genetic work up in Egypt related to the connexin 26 whole gene mutations on 2002. The main practice is in the field of pediatric audiovestibular medicine, rehabilitation of Audiovestibular disorders with vast experience in all types hearing devices, as well as genetic hearing loss. She is one of the editorial board in Egyptian Journal of OtoRhinoLaryngology ‘EJO’, and the International Journal of Speech, language pathology and Audiology; a reviewer for the international journal of pediatric ORL & Egyptian journal of ear, nose and throat. Since 2019, she is a member in the Research ethic Committee of Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams university as well as a member in the ORL Dept. research Committee. Being a university professor, she supervises and discussed the master and doctoral thesis for a large number of Audio-vestibular and ENT students. Dr Dalia is a member in the International Association of Physicians in Audiology 'IAPA' and Egyptian Audiovestibular Medicine Association 'EAVMA'. Moreover, she actively participated in hundreds of workshops and international conferences.
0000-0002-5644-2831: ORCID number
Medhat Yousef, MD, Ph.D.
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2102-6704
Dr. Medhat Yousef is a professor and consultant in Audio-Vestibular Medicine at the King Abdullah Ear Specialist Center, King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA. With extensive experience in audiology in Egypt, the UK, and Canada, Dr. Yousef is involved in both clinical practice and academic teaching for undergraduate and postgraduate students. He earned his Doctorate in Audio-Vestibular Medicine from Menoufiya University, Egypt, in 2008. He is also a Certified Clinical Audiologist by Speech-Language & Audiology Canada (SAC) and is registered with the Alberta College of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists.
Dr. Yassin Abdelsamad is the Head of the Research Department at MED-EL in the Middle East. He is a dedicated researcher in hearing implants, holding both an MSc and a Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Abdelsamad has co-authored over 65 publications on hearing implant technology and clinical outcomes. His work focuses on developing innovative solutions for auditory implants and bridging research with clinical practice.
Hannes Maier studied mathematics and physics at the Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany. After the pre-diploma he continued is studies at the Université de Paris Sud, Orsay, France, before he received a Max-Planck fellowship at the Max-Planck-Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt, Germany. There he worked there on the theory of interaction between electric fields and cells receiving his diploma in physics in 1987 and his PhD in 1993 from Johann-Wolfgang-v. Goethe-University Frankfurt, Germany. After a post-doctoral position at the Dept. of Otolaryngology, Hearing Research Laboratory, Tübingen University, Germany working experimentally on the micromechanics of the apical cochlea he was appointed Head of Audiology/Neurotology at the Dept. Otolaryngology, Hamburg Eppendorf University Medical School, Hamburg, Germany in 1998. From 2008 to 2011 he joined the start-up Phonak Acoustic Implants SA, Morges, Switzerland as senior research scientist for the development of an active direct acoustic cochlear implant. In 2012 he was appointed associate professor for Experimental Audiology in the Cluster of “Excellence Hearing 4all” and Head of the Acoustic Implants Team, Dept. Otolaryngology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany. His main areas of research are the audiological and experimental evaluation of active middle ear implants and bone conduction devices as well as the development of new acoustic implants.
