Electrical dynamic range is only weakly associated with auditory performance and speech recognition in long-term...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• The electrical dynamic range (EDR) is a key parameter in cochlear implant (CI) function, influencing auditory perception.
• Limited research exists on EDR in long-term CI users, especially comparing pre-lingual and post-lingual deafness.
• Understanding EDR's role is crucial for optimizing CI outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate auditory perception and speech performance in relation to EDR in long-term CI users.
• To compare EDR and related performances between pre-lingual and post-lingual CI user groups.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of EDR, auditory, and speech performance in CI users with ≥5 years of experience.
• Inclusion of pure tone audiometry, Phonetically Balanced (PB) Word List, vowel/consonant, sentence tests, and Korean version of the Central Institute for the Deaf (K-CID) scores.
• Calculation of Category in Auditory Performance (CAP) scores.

Main Results:

• No significant differences in average EDR, CAP, K-CID, PB word, consonant, or vowel scores between pre- and post-lingual CI users.
• Weak associations found between EDR and PB word (r=0.462) and consonant scores (r=0.438).
• No significant associations between EDR T-level and CAP, K-CID, or vowel scores; no association with pure tone thresholds.

Conclusions:

• EDR demonstrates a weak correlation with specific speech performance metrics (consonant and PB word tests) in long-term CI users.
• This weak association is independent of the user's pre-lingual or post-lingual deafness status.
• EDR may have a limited, albeit present, role in predicting speech outcomes in established CI users.