Suzanne Carolyn Purdy1,2, David Welch2,3, Ellen Giles2,3, Catherine Louise Anne Morgan4, Renique Tenhagen1, Abin Kuruvilla-Mathew1,2. 1. a Speech Science, Faculty of Science , University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand. 2. b Eisdell Moore Centre, Hearing and Balance Research , New Zealand. 3. c Audiology, Faculty of Medical & Health Sciences , University of Auckland , Auckland , New Zealand. 4. d Cochlear Ltd , Sydney , Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of cognition and noise reduction (NR) technology in cochlear implants (CIs) on speech perception and listening effort. METHODS: Thirteen adults fitted with unilateral CIs (Nucleus® 6, CP900) participated in this study. Participants performed: (I) cognitive tests of working memory and processing speed, (II) speech perception in noise tests, and (III) an auditory-visual dual-task paradigm to quantify listening effort, as a part of the three-phase experimental study. Both the participant and the tester, performing the outcome measures, were blinded to the NR settings (ON/OFF) of the CI for phases II and III. RESULTS: Speech intelligibility significantly improved with the NR activated, but was independent of individual differences in cognitive abilities. Listening effort did not significantly change with NR setting; however, there was a trend for participants with good working memory to have better speech perception scores with NR activated during the effortful listening task (dual-task paradigm). CONCLUSION: Future studies are warranted to explore the interaction between cognition and CI NR algorithms during an effortful listening task.
OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of cognition and noise reduction (NR) technology in cochlear implants (CIs) on speech perception and listening effort. METHODS: Thirteen adults fitted with unilateral CIs (Nucleus® 6, CP900) participated in this study. Participants performed: (I) cognitive tests of working memory and processing speed, (II) speech perception in noise tests, and (III) an auditory-visual dual-task paradigm to quantify listening effort, as a part of the three-phase experimental study. Both the participant and the tester, performing the outcome measures, were blinded to the NR settings (ON/OFF) of the CI for phases II and III. RESULTS: Speech intelligibility significantly improved with the NR activated, but was independent of individual differences in cognitive abilities. Listening effort did not significantly change with NR setting; however, there was a trend for participants with good working memory to have better speech perception scores with NR activated during the effortful listening task (dual-task paradigm). CONCLUSION: Future studies are warranted to explore the interaction between cognition and CI NR algorithms during an effortful listening task.
Authors: Jake Hillyer; Elizabeth Elkins; Chantel Hazlewood; Stacey D Watson; Julie G Arenberg; Alexandra Parbery-Clark Journal: Front Neurosci Date: 2019-01-15 Impact factor: 4.677