The effects of frequency response on speech perception for cochlear implant users

Alexandra Weatherby, Katherine R. Henshall, Colette M. McKay

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    The aim of this study was to investigate the effects on speech perception of manipulating filter gains in a cochlear implant speech processor. Five implantees, who use the CI22 implant and Spectra processor manufactured by Cochlear Ltd, participated. Four experimental maps were created that were identical to their clinical map except for the profile of gains across the filters. Experimental gain profiles had rising or falling gains across the frequency range, or emphasized or de-emphasized the middle frequencies, relative to the clinical map. Perception of CNC (consonant-vowel-consonant) words at 70 dB SPL was significantly better with the clinical map than with all experimental maps, whereas at the lower level (60 dB SPL) there was minimal difference between the maps, with the low-frequency emphasis map giving significantly better scores than the high-frequency emphasis map. Perception of sentences at 70 dB SPL with a signal-to-noise ratio of +10 dB was better with the high-frequency emphasis map than with the low-frequency emphasis map. None of these best-conditions, however, were statistically better than the clinical map. The results highlighted the importance of signal audibility for speech perception with cochlear implants.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)582-591
    Number of pages9
    JournalJournal of the American Academy of Audiology
    Volume14
    Issue number10
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Oct 2003

    Keywords

    • Cochlear implants
    • Frequency response
    • Speech perception

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