Speech Performance and Training Effects in the Cochlear Implant Elderly

Abstract

Objectives: Cochlear implantation requires acclimatization to the electrical input. Usually, cochlear implant (CI) listeners undergo an auditory rehabilitation program that includes auditory training sessions. Recently, it was shown that a phoneme-based training may improve speech perception abilities even in experienced CI listeners. The current study focuses on whether the effect of an auditory training program depends on the age of CI listeners. Design: Fifteen CI listeners took part in an auditory phoneme-based computer training program. Before and after training, speech recognition tests in moderate and difficult noise (+5 dB SNR and 0 dB SNR, respectively) were administered. Additionally, speech recognition was tested 6 months after the training (follow-up). A control group consisting of 12 subjects underwent audiometric testing without any auditory training. Results: Speech perception in moderate noise improved significantly during the training as revealed by comparing pre- and posttraining scores evaluated in the moderate noise condition. No significant change was observed for the difficult noise situation at 0 dB SNR. The speech perception measures of the control group remained unchanged. No significant effect of age on the training effect was observed. Conclusion: Speech recognition can be improved even in experienced CI listeners. When motivated to participate, senior CI users with long-term CI experience may benefit in a similar way from an auditory, phoneme-based computer training program as younger CI users.

Development of a home‐based auditory training to improve speech recognition on the telephone for patients with cochlear implants: A randomised trial

“…By omitting the need of specific equipment beyond training CDs, however, the approach proposed and evaluated here is very cost‐effective. As noted before, a final potential source of bias is the fact that mostly motivated patients take part in studies like the present one. Therefore, the effect shown here might partially depend on the supposed high motivation of the patients.…”

Speech Perception and Information-Carrying Capacity for Hearing Aid Users of Different Ages

“…Further, elderly CI listeners also demonstrate benefit from individually tailored auditory training therapy that can result in auditory outcomes marginally below those observed for younger CI users [Schumann et al, 2014].…”

Noise-Induced Change of Cortical Temporal Processing in Cochlear Implant Users

“…Previously, in both CI users and the NH group, the attentional modulation of auditory cortical responses has been revealed during SiN perception [ 31 , 32 ]. In people with hearing impairment and CIs, aural rehabilitation focusing on attention-induced change has been effective in improving speech understanding with background noise [ 14 , 33 ]. A number of studies comparing the cortical responses recorded from passive and active listening reported that N1 and P2 amplitudes increased with attention [ 9 , 34 , 35 ].…”