Intra-individual assessment of speech and music perception in cochlear implant users with contralateral Cochlear^™ and MED-EL^™ systems

Abstract

Conclusion: Whilst objective testing on music perception showed no individual differences between cochlear implant (CI) devices, subjective music perception was found to be superior with the MED-EL device in the majority of cases evaluated. Objective: To compare speech and music perception through two different CI systems in the same individuals. Methods: Six post-lingually deaf patients, who had been implanted with a Cochlear^™ Nucleus^® device in one ear and a MED-EL SONATATI¹⁰⁰ on the contralateral side were evaluated. One subject was excluded from group analysis because of significant differences in performance between ears. Subjects completed a questionnaire designed to assess implant users' listening habits. Subjective assessments of each subject were made for comparison of speech and music perception with each system and preferences of system. The subjects consecutively used each system with the contralateral device turned off, and were objectively assessed for specific musical skills. Speech perception in quiet and in noise was tested. Results: For all objective tests of music discrimination and speech perception in noise, there were no statistically significant differences between MED-EL and Cochlear CI systems. Subjectively, four subjects thought their MED-EL device was better than their Cochlear device for music appreciation. Four thought that music sounded more natural, less tinny and more reverberant with their MED-EL CI than with their Cochlear CI. One subject rated all these to be equal.

Keywords::

• Music appreciation
• pitch
• melody
• chords
• rhythm
• timbre
• musical auditory object recognition
• speech coding strategies

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the participants for their enthusiasm and willingness to take part in this study, as well as Dr Catherine Birman and Professor Melville Da Cruz from SCIC Sydney, Dr Robert Eisenberg from SCIC Newcastle, and Dr Philip Bird from ‘The Southern CI Programme’, Christchurch, New Zealand, and their teams, who willingly agreed to their patients being approached for the study. MED-EL provided the travel funding for the participants, the music tests and statistical support. Dr Harris's Cochlear Implant Fellowship at SCIC Sydney was supported by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Rowan Nicks Fellowship for Great Britain & Ireland, and by an HCA International Foundation Travelling Scholarship.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.