[The evaluation of FM speech rehabilitation effect in cochlear implant children]

To evaluate the improvement of speech perception in Chinese-native cochlear implant (CI) children using frequency modulated system (FM system).

The mandarin speech perception (MSP) system was used to evaluate 11 cases with severe and profound hearing loss who were fitted cochlear implants. Listeners were asked to repeat MSP words presented in quiet and several different signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions and percent correct word repetition was determined. Performance was evaluated under FM system and without FM (CI only). In addition, the listeners' subjective performance changes in the experiment were also observed.

(1) There was significant main effect of the device condition (with FM and no-FM) (F = 72.938, P < 0.01), a significant main effect of signal level (F = 230.715, P < 0.01), a significant interaction effect between the signal level and the device condition (F = 40.893, P < 0.01). (2) Listeners answered the question in a louder voice, showed more confidence, when using with FM system.

FM system could improve the speech reception in a complex environment for Chinese-native CI children.