Speech understanding in noise for cochlear implant recipients using a spatial noise reduction setting in an off the ear sound processor with directional microphones

Abstract

Purpose

Cochlear implant (CI) recipients struggle to hear in competing background noise. ForwardFocus is a spatial noise reduction setting from Cochlear Ltd. (Sydney) that can simultaneously attenuate noise from multiple sources behind the listener. This study assessed hearing performance with ForwardFocus in an off-the-ear (OTE) sound processor.

Method

Twenty-two experienced adult CI recipients participated. Speech reception data was collected in fixed noise acutely in the clinic. After three to five weeks take home experience, subjective impressions were recorded, and evaluations were conducted for speech reception in quiet and roving noise.

Results

Group mean speech reception thresholds (SRT) were below 0 dB in two spatially-separated noise test conditions when using ForwardFocus in the OTE sound processor. SRT were −8.5 dB (SD 2.9) in 4-talker babble roving in a rear hemi-field (S0Nrearhemi) and −3.9 dB (SD 3.3) in 12-talker babble presented laterally and behind (S0N3). Results in S0N3 were significantly better with ForwardFocus On (p = 0.0018). Subjective ratings with the OTE were comparable to, or better than, with their walk-in BTE or OTE sound processor.

Conclusions

ForwardFocus provides significant benefits for speech recognition in competing background noise in an OTE sound processor. These results support clinicians in counselling CI recipients on potential sound processor options to consider.

Keywords:

• AuSTIN entences
• Speech reception
• Hearing loss

Disclaimer statements

Contributors: All authors contributed to the interpretation of the data and writing of the manuscript

Funding: This work was supported by Cochlear.

Conflict of interests: MJ, CW, MM and JW are employees of Cochlear and PG acts as a consultant for Cochlear

Ethics approval: Ethics approval was obtained from Bellberry Human Research Ethics Committee, Bellberry Limited, 129 Glen Osmond Road, Eastwood, South Australia 5063. The study is registered publicly via Australia and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12619000666123.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marian Jones

Marian Jones is a principal research audiologist at Cochlear Limited and has a Bachelor of Arts and Masters in Audiology from Macquarie University.

Chris Warren

Chris Warren holds a Bachelor of Applied Science and Masters of Clinical Audiology from Macquarie University. At the time of contributing, Chris was the Director of Clinical Portfolio Strategy at Cochlear Limited.

Marjan Mashal

Marjan (Emjay) Mashal holds a Bachelor of Speech, Hearing and Language Sciences and Masters of Clinical Audiology from Macquarie University. At the time of contributing to the investigation, Emjay was a Research Audiologist at Cochlear Limited.

Paula Greenham

Paula Greenham is a UK based audiologist with a Bachelor of Physics degree and a Masters in Audiology. She has extensive experience in Cochlear Implants (CI) and as Director of Greenham Research Consulting Limited, she has provided scientific support and writing expertise for a wide range of CI studies.

Josie Wyss

Josie Wyss has many years of experience in hearing devices. She is the Director of Scientific Communications at Cochlear Limited and holds a Diploma in Audiology and Bachelor of Science.