OBJECTIVE: To test whether in-the-canal (ITC) microphones have an impact on spatial discrimination and speech perception by taking advantage of auricular cues. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental clinical study. SETTING: Audiologic laboratory in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Seven bilateral adult cochlear implant (CI) users were selected from the institution's database. INTERVENTION: The adaptive German Oldenburg sentence test and minimum audible angle measurements were performed binaurally with experimental ITC and behind-the-ear (BTE) microphones. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spatial discrimination and speech perception scores assessed for each microphone position. RESULTS: Spatial discrimination on the side of the head was superior using ITC compared with BTE microphone positions; the differences on the side of the first CI were statistically significant (mean minimum audible angle ± standard deviation, 28.4 ± 7.61 degrees versus 34.1 ± 14.4 degrees; p = 0.031). Speech perception scores with ITC versus BTE microphone positions also were improved, although the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: ITC microphones could help to improve CI performance in the future.
OBJECTIVE: To test whether in-the-canal (ITC) microphones have an impact on spatial discrimination and speech perception by taking advantage of auricular cues. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental clinical study. SETTING: Audiologic laboratory in a tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Seven bilateral adult cochlear implant (CI) users were selected from the institution's database. INTERVENTION: The adaptive German Oldenburg sentence test and minimum audible angle measurements were performed binaurally with experimental ITC and behind-the-ear (BTE) microphones. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spatial discrimination and speech perception scores assessed for each microphone position. RESULTS: Spatial discrimination on the side of the head was superior using ITC compared with BTE microphone positions; the differences on the side of the first CI were statistically significant (mean minimum audible angle ± standard deviation, 28.4 ± 7.61 degrees versus 34.1 ± 14.4 degrees; p = 0.031). Speech perception scores with ITC versus BTE microphone positions also were improved, although the differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: ITC microphones could help to improve CI performance in the future.
Authors: René H Gifford; Louise Loiselle; Sarah Natale; Sterling W Sheffield; Linsey W Sunderhaus; Mary S Dietrich; Michael F Dorman Journal: J Speech Lang Hear Res Date: 2018-05-17 Impact factor: 2.297
Authors: Elizabeth R Kolberg; Sterling W Sheffield; Timothy J Davis; Linsey W Sunderhaus; René H Gifford Journal: J Am Acad Audiol Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 1.664
Authors: Tim Fischer; Christoph Schmid; Martin Kompis; Georgios Mantokoudis; Marco Caversaccio; Wilhelm Wimmer Journal: Ear Hear Date: 2021 Jan/Feb Impact factor: 3.562