Change of Phonation Control After Cochlear Implantation

Abstract

As expected, the voice quality of the prelingually deafened children was significantly worse than that of the postlingually deafened adults. After cochlear implantation, the children significantly improved their short-term and long-term F0 and amplitude variability. In adults, no significant improvement was detected. We suppose that the improvement is a consequence not only of the acquired hearing control but also of the adaptation ability of neuromuscular phonation control and the maturing of these control mechanisms in children. In adults, better phonation quality in general and lesser improvement after the implantation can be the results of well-developed and stable phonation patterns.

Control of speech and voice in cochlear implant patients

“…Common short‐term measurements of vocal stability—jitter and shimmer—which measure variation of pitch and loudness, respectively, within single utterances, have similarly been found to increase in hearing impaired individuals, which is consistent with decreased vocal stability. Following CI, both jitter and shimmer decrease in some prelingually deaf children, approaching normal ranges. Other studies have suggested that both jitter and shimmer in deaf children do not significantly differ from NH either before or after implantation .…”

“…Following implantation, adult vF0 has been found to decrease . On the other hand, CIs have only been found to improve vAM in children . Common short‐term measurements of vocal stability—jitter and shimmer—which measure variation of pitch and loudness, respectively, within single utterances, have similarly been found to increase in hearing impaired individuals, which is consistent with decreased vocal stability.…”

“…This reduced control is most obvious in vocal instability between successive words, with increases in variability of pitch (vF0) and loudness (vAM). Following implantation, adult vF0 has been found to decrease . On the other hand, CIs have only been found to improve vAM in children .…”

Exploring consequences of short- and long-term deafness on speech production: A lip-tube perturbation study

“…As demonstrated by acoustic analyses, post-lingually deaf individuals have a better phonetic control compared with prelingually deaf individuals. As suggested by the authors, better phonation quality can be the result of well-developed and stable phonation patterns (Hocevar-Boltezar et al, 2006). Nevertheless, they experience gradual degradation of their speech, likely as a result of degradation of acquired auditory phonemic goals and feedforward commands (Guenther et al, 2006;Perkell, 2012).…”

Multidimensional evaluation of vocal quality in children with cochlear implants: a cross‐sectional, case‐controlled study

“…Previous literature has shown that cochlear implants (CIs) may not only help hearing‐impaired patients recover their hearing but also improve their voice quality because CIs provide the patients with refined auditory feedback to monitor their voice …”