Joke A Debruyne1,2, Tom Francart3, A Miranda L Janssen1,4, Kim Douma1,5, Jan P L Brokx1,2. 1. a Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery , Maastricht University Medical Center , Maastricht , The Netherlands. 2. b School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University , Maastricht, The Netherlands. 3. c Leuven Department of Neurosciences , KU , ExpORL , Belgium. 4. d School for Public Health and Primary Care (CAPHRI) , Department of Methodology and Statistics , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands , and. 5. e Adelante , Center of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology , Hoensbroek , The Netherlands.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the hypotheses that (1) prelingually deafened CI users do not have perfect electrode discrimination ability and (2) the deactivation of non-discriminable electrodes can improve auditory performance. DESIGN: Electrode discrimination difference limens were determined for all electrodes of the array. The subjects' basic map was subsequently compared to an experimental map, which contained only discriminable electrodes, with respect to speech understanding in quiet and in noise, listening effort, spectral ripple discrimination and subjective appreciation. STUDY SAMPLE: Subjects were six prelingually deafened, late implanted adults using the Nucleus cochlear implant. RESULTS: Electrode discrimination difference limens across all subjects and electrodes ranged from 0.5 to 7.125, with significantly larger limens for basal electrodes. No significant differences were found between the basic map and the experimental map on auditory tests. Subjective appreciation was found to be significantly poorer for the experimental map. CONCLUSIONS: Prelingually deafened CI users were unable to discriminate between all adjacent electrodes. There was no difference in auditory performance between the basic and experimental map. Potential factors contributing to the absence of improvement with the experimental map include the reduced number of maxima, incomplete adaptation to the new frequency allocation, and the mainly basal location of deactivated electrodes.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the hypotheses that (1) prelingually deafened CI users do not have perfect electrode discrimination ability and (2) the deactivation of non-discriminable electrodes can improve auditory performance. DESIGN: Electrode discrimination difference limens were determined for all electrodes of the array. The subjects' basic map was subsequently compared to an experimental map, which contained only discriminable electrodes, with respect to speech understanding in quiet and in noise, listening effort, spectral ripple discrimination and subjective appreciation. STUDY SAMPLE: Subjects were six prelingually deafened, late implanted adults using the Nucleus cochlear implant. RESULTS: Electrode discrimination difference limens across all subjects and electrodes ranged from 0.5 to 7.125, with significantly larger limens for basal electrodes. No significant differences were found between the basic map and the experimental map on auditory tests. Subjective appreciation was found to be significantly poorer for the experimental map. CONCLUSIONS: Prelingually deafened CI users were unable to discriminate between all adjacent electrodes. There was no difference in auditory performance between the basic and experimental map. Potential factors contributing to the absence of improvement with the experimental map include the reduced number of maxima, incomplete adaptation to the new frequency allocation, and the mainly basal location of deactivated electrodes.
Authors: Fabiana Danieli; Thomas Dermacy; Maria Stella Arantes do Amaral; Ana Cláudia Mirandola Barbosa Reis; Dan Gnansia; Miguel Angelo Hyppolito Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2020-06-25 Impact factor: 2.503