Speech Recognition in Noise in Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implant Recipients Using Digital Remote Wireless Microphone Technology

Abstract

Previous research in cochlear implant (CI) recipients with bilateral severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss showed improvements in speech recognition in noise using remote wireless microphone systems. However, to our knowledge, no previous studies have addressed the benefit of these systems in CI recipients with single-sided deafness.The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential improvement in speech recognition in noise for distant speakers in single-sided deaf (SSD) CI recipients obtained using the digital remote wireless microphone system, Roger. In addition, we evaluated the potential benefit in normal hearing (NH) participants gained by applying this system.Speech recognition in noise for a distant speaker in different conditions with and without Roger was evaluated with a two-way repeated-measures design in each group, SSD CI recipients, and NH participants. Post hoc analyses were conducted using pairwise comparison t-tests with Bonferroni correction.Eleven adult SSD participants aided with CIs and eleven adult NH participants were included in this study.All participants were assessed in 15 test conditions (5 listening conditions × 3 noise levels) each. The listening conditions for SSD CI recipients included the following: (I) only NH ear and CI turned off, (II) NH ear and CI (turned on), (III) NH ear and CI with Roger 14, (IV) NH ear with Roger Focus and CI, and (V) NH ear with Roger Focus and CI with Roger 14. For the NH participants, five corresponding listening conditions were chosen: (I) only better ear and weaker ear masked, (II) both ears, (III) better ear and weaker ear with Roger Focus, (IV) better ear with Roger Focus and weaker ear, and (V) both ears with Roger Focus. The speech level was fixed at 65 dB(A) at 1 meter from the speech-presenting loudspeaker, yielding a speech level of 56.5 dB(A) at the recipient's head. Noise levels were 55, 65, and 75 dB(A). Digitally altered noise recorded in school classrooms was used as competing noise. Speech recognition was measured in percent correct using the Oldenburg sentence test.In SSD CI recipients, a significant improvement in speech recognition was found for all listening conditions with Roger (III, IV, and V) versus all no-Roger conditions (I and II) at the higher noise levels (65 and 75 dB[A]). NH participants significantly benefited from the application of Roger in noise for higher levels, too. In both groups, no significant difference was detected between any of the different listening conditions at 55 dB(A) competing noise. There was also no significant difference between any of the Roger conditions III, IV, and V across all noise levels.The application of the advanced remote wireless microphone system, Roger, in SSD CI recipients provided significant benefits in speech recognition for distant speakers at higher noise levels. In NH participants, the application of Roger also produced a significant benefit in speech recognition in noise.

Application of Digital Remote Wireless Microphone Technology in Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implant Recipients

“…Including SSD CI recipients provided with a CI from MED-EL, the present study expands previous findings from a recent study in SSD CI recipients with a CI from Cochlear™ (Wesarg et al, 2019 27 ). Therefore, it seems that with the application of Roger™ technology, a benefit in speech recognition in noise is evident in SSD CI recipients independently of CI sound processor technology.…”

“…The aim of the present study is to determine whether SSD CI recipients using a CI from MED-EL Elektrome-dizinische Gerate GesmbH (Innsbruck, Austria) benefit from different modes of application of Roger™ in speech recognition for a distant speaker in multisource background noise. Such an improvement is expected, as demonstrated in our study including SSD CI recipients implanted with CI from Cochlear™ (Wesarg et al, 2019 27 ). In addition, the influence of either unilateral (NH ear; CI) or bilateral application of Roger™ should be evaluated in SSD MED-EL CI recipients.…”

“…Various studies have shown that speech recognition in noise and localization of sound sources in SSD participants significantly improve after cochlear implantation (Lieu, 27 ). The aim of the present study is to measure the benefit of the remote wireless technology, Roger™, in SSD CI recipients using a CI from MED-EL and to compare the unilateral application of Roger™ on the NH ear or on the CI and the bilateral Roger™ use on both ears.…”

“…In addition, the influence of either unilateral (NH ear; CI) or bilateral application of Roger™ should be evaluated in SSD MED-EL CI recipients. Based on the results of Wesarg et al (2019), 27 our hypothesis is that the use of Roger™ in SSD CI recipients either on the NH side, the CI side, or bilaterally provides equal benefit. Furthermore, the impact of the type of Roger™ receiver coupled to the CI (Roger™ X versus Roger™ MyLink) on speech recognition in noise is investigated.…”

“…In addition, Razza et al (2017) 18 assessed the improvement of speech reception threshold in noise in bilaterally hearing-impaired unilateral or bilateral CI children using two different remote wireless systems and found a significantly better speech performance with the Mini Microphone 1 compared with Roger™. Furthermore, we were able to demonstrate the benefits ofthe remote wireless technology, Roger™, in SSD participants provided with a CI from Cochlear Ltd. (Sydney, Australia) and normal-hearing (NH) participants (Wesarg et al, 2019 27 ). Both SSD CI recipients and NH participants benefited from the unilateral application of Roger™ on the NH ear, on the CI as well as from using Roger™ bilaterally, and no difference was revealed between the applications (Wesarg et al, 2019 17 ).…”