The influence of stimulation levels on auditory thresholds and speech recognition in adult cochlear implant users

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the influence of minimum and maximum stimulation levels on auditory thresholds and speech recognition abilities in adult cochlear implant users. Method: Fifteen adults implanted with a Cochlear® device with over 12 months listening experience. Participants unde...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cochlear implants international 2021-01, Vol.22 (1), p.42-48
Main Authors: Martins, Kelly Vasconcelos Chaves, Goffi-Gomez, Maria Valéria Schmidt
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Auditory Perception
Auditory Threshold
Cochlear Implant
Loudness Perception
Psychoacoustics
Speech Perception
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Summary:Objective: This study aims to evaluate the influence of minimum and maximum stimulation levels on auditory thresholds and speech recognition abilities in adult cochlear implant users. Method: Fifteen adults implanted with a Cochlear® device with over 12 months listening experience. Participants underwent routine programming for optimization of minimum (T) and maximum comfort (C) stimulation levels, which was saved in Program 1 (MO). Three further maps were constructed artificially adjusting the measured levels: Program 2 - MO with 10 fewer electrical current units at C level (MC-); Program 3 - MO with 10 fewer electric current units at T level (MT−); and Program 4 - MO with 10 more electric current units at T level (MT+). Sound field thresholds, recorded sentence recognition and monosyllable tests were presented in quiet and in noise. Results: There were significantly better thresholds at 1, 3, 4, and 6 kHz frequencies in MT+ and worse in MC−. A statistically significant difference was observed for sentences in quiet and monosyllables in quiet and noise with changing C levels, with worsening of the results for MC− program. Conclusion: The results suggest that T levels above the behavioural threshold provided an improvement in sound field thresholds but did not influence performance on speech recognition tests in quiet and in noise. In contrast, C levels below the behavioural comfort level worsened sound field thresholds and led to poorer performance in tests of sentence recognition in quiet and monosyllable recognition in quiet and in noise.
ISSN:1467-0100
1754-7628
DOI:10.1080/14670100.2020.1822495