[Cochlear implantation and auditory feedback]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the short term effect of cochlear implantation on the fundamental frequency and the articulation of 13 patients. This investigation objectives for the first time the changes of fundamental frequency and articulation in cochlear implant patients. All postlingual deaf patients were provided with a Combi 40+ cochlear implant. Voice recording was performed pre- and three months post-implantation. The voice data was analyzed using the "X-Tool" software. The results show that 38% of the patients had a significant (p < 0.05) decrease of F0 mean three months after implantation. A postoperative decrease of F0 towards the normal range was observed generally in all patients. Spectographs pre- and post-implantation showed that the articulation improved already 3 months after partial restoration of auditory feedback. A large variability of F0 was noticed among the deaf subjects, but no correlation to the duration of deafness could be established.