The use of cochlear's SCAN and wireless microphones to improve speech understanding in noise with the Nucleus6® CP900 processor

Abstract

Objectives: The newest Nucleus CI processor, the CP900, has two new options to improve speech-in-noise perception: (1) use of an adaptive directional microphone (SCAN mode) and (2) wireless connection to MiniMic1 and MiniMic2 wireless remote microphones. Design: An analysis was made of the absolute and relative benefits of these technologies in a real-world mimicking test situation. Speech perception was tested using an adaptive speech-in-noise test (sentences-in-babble noise). In session A, SRTs were measured in three conditions: (1) Clinical Map, (2) SCAN and (3) MiniMic1. Each was assessed for three distances between speakers and CI recipient: 1 m, 2 m and 3 m. In session B, the benefit of the use of MiniMic2 was compared to benefit of MiniMic1 at 3 m. Study sample: A group of 13 adult CP900 recipients participated. Results: SCAN and MiniMic1 improved performance compared to the standard microphone with a median improvement in SRT of 2.7–3.9 dB for SCAN at 1 m and 3 m, respectively, and 4.7–10.9 dB for the MiniMic1. MiniMic1 improvements were significant. MiniMic2 showed an improvement in SRT of 22.2 dB compared to 10.0 dB for MiniMic1 (3 m). Conclusions: Digital wireless transmission systems (i.e. MiniMic) offer a statistically and clinically significant improvement in speech perception in challenging, realistic listening conditions.

Key Words:

• Cochlear implant
• wireless
• directional microphone
• speech perception
• noise
• assistive listening devices

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Thomas Stainsby for his helpful language review and the two anonymous reviewers for their useful comments.

Declaration of interest

The Eargroup (Authors Geert De Ceulaer, David Pascoal and Paul Govaerts) has received research grants from the company Cochlear. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.