The evaluation of cochlear implant users’ acoustic change detection ability

Abstract

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between behaviourally acquired Acoustic Change Detection Test (ACDT) responses and electrophysiologically obtained Acoustic Change Complex (ACC) responses in participants with Cochlear Implant (CI).

Methods

28 unilateral adult CI users (mean age 41) participated in the study. In behavioural test session, ACDT and speech tests were administered. In electrophysiological test session, sound onset and ACC responses of participants stimulated by/ui/speech structure were recorded and N1–P2 peak-to-peak amplitude and N1 latencies were determined.

Results

No significant correlation was found between individuals’ behavioural and electrophysiological responses but it was observed that individuals dived into two clusters in terms of ACDT responses (p < 0.05). A statistically significant difference was found between the mean ACC amplitudes of the clusters. No statistically significant difference was observed between the mean ACC N1 latency findings of the clusters, suggesting that ACC amplitude may be a better predictor than latency in auditory discrimination.

Conclusion

ACC measurement may be a potential clinical tool to evaluate auditory discrimination performance in individuals with CI, but using the electrophysiological and behavioural tests together may provide a more holistic perspective.

Keywords:

• Cochlear implant
• acoustic change response
• speech perception
• auditory discrimination
• behavioural response

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Asst. Prof. Nurhan Erbil for her helpful comments and support on the study.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Hacettepe University (No. GO: 17/52-18). Written informed consent was obtained from the subjects who participated in this study. Consent for publication was obtained from the authors who participated in this study.

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by [Eylem Saraç Kaya], [Meral Didem Türkyılmaz] and [Mehmet Yaralı]. The first draft of the manuscript was written by [Eylem Saraç Kaya] and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.