A Multiple-Channel Cochlear Implant and Wearable Speech-Processor: An Audiological Evaluation

Abstract

Standard audiological tests were administered to a totally deaf multiple-channel cochlear implant patient with a wearable speech-processor in a monitored so and field under the following conditions: a wearable unit activated alone (WA). lipreading with the wearable unit off (LA), and wearable unit activated in combination with lipreading (WL). Thresholds obtained for narrowband noise signals indicated that the wearable unit allowed the patient to detect a variety of sounds at different frequencies. The results obtained in closed-set word tests and open-set word and sentence tests showed significant improvements in word and sentence scores from LA to WL. In the open-set (C.I.D.) sentence test. the patient scored 22% for LA and 76% for WL. The WL score of 76% correlates with a satisfactory performance in understanding connected speech. The patient also scored 30% correct in a test involving the recognition of environmental soands.