[A multicentre comparative study of the ESPrit and the Nucleus 22]

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Cochlear implant recipients face challenges with speech comprehension in noisy environments and with soft speech.
• Evaluating advanced speech processors is crucial for improving auditory rehabilitation outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the performance benefits of the ESPrit 3G cochlear implant processor for Nucleus Mini 22 users.
• To compare the ESPrit 3G against the Spectra 22 and ESPrit 22 processors in various listening conditions.

Main Methods:

• A clinical study involving 28 German-speaking Nucleus Mini 22 cochlear implant users.
• Subjects were evaluated using the ESPrit 3G processor after a 4-week trial, comparing it to their existing processor.
• Speech understanding was assessed using Freiburger monosyllabic words (FMW) in quiet and Oldenburger sentences (OLSA) in noise.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements (p<0.001) in speech understanding were observed with the ESPrit 3G, particularly for soft speech in quiet and in noisy conditions.
• The ESPrit 3G processor was preferred by 86% of the study participants.
• Improvements were noted in both objective performance measures and subjective user experiences.

Conclusions:

• The ESPrit 3G processor offers significant potential to enhance speech understanding for Nucleus 22 cochlear implant users.
• The device demonstrates advantages in both quiet, soft-intensity listening and noisy, conversational environments.
• Users reported subjective benefits including improved sound quality, ease of use, and wearer comfort.