Cochlear implant datalogging accurately characterizes children’s ‘auditory scenes’

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to determine if children’s auditory environments are accurately captured by the automatic scene classification embedded in cochlear implant (CI) processors and to quantify the amount of electronic device use in these environments.

Methods: Seven children with CIs, 36.71 (SD = 11.94) months old, participated in this study. Three of the children were male and four were female. Eleven datalogs, containing outcomes from Cochlear’s™ Nucleus^® 6 (Cochlear Corporation, Australia) CI scene classification algorithm, and seven day-long audio recordings collected with a Language ENvironment Analysis (LENA; LENA Research Foundation, USA) recorder were obtained for analysis.

Results: Results from the scene classification algorithm were strongly correlated with categories determined through human coding (ICC = .86, CI = [−0.2, 1], F(5,5.1) = 5.9, P = 0.04) but some differences emerged. Scene classification identified more ‘Quiet’ (t(8.2) = 4.1, P = 0.003) than human coders, while humans identified more ‘Speech’ (t(10.6) = −2.4, P = 0.04). On average, 8% (SD = 5.8) of the children’s day was spent in electronic sound, which was primarily produced by mobile devices (39.7%).

Discussion: While CI scene classification software reflects children’s natural auditory environments, it is important to consider how different scenes are defined when interpreting results. An electronic sounds category should be considered given how often children are exposed to such sounds.

Keywords:

• Electronic Media
• Scene Classification
• Nucleus 6 Processor
• Auditory Environment
• Datalogging

Notes on contributors

Hillary Ganek, PhD, is a speech-language pathologist and former research fellow in the Cochlear Implant Lab at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON.

Deja Forde-Dixon is a former research assistant in the Cochlear Implant Lab at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON.

Sharon L. Cushing, MD, is an otolaryngologist and director of the Cochlear Implant Program at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON.

Blake C. Papsin, MD, is the otolaryngologist-in-chief at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON.

Karen A. Gordon, PhD, is an audiologist and director of the Cochlear Implant Lab at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, ON.