Speech comprehension across multiple CI processor generations: Scene dependent signal processing.

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neuroscience
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Cochlear implant (CI) patients' speech comprehension is typically assessed using suprathreshold measurements.
• Evaluating the performance of different CI sound processors is crucial for optimizing patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the speech comprehension performance of three successive cochlear implant sound processors (CP810, CP910, CP1000).
• To assess the impact of signal processing technologies and input dynamic range on speech perception in quiet and noise.
• To analyze CI patient outcomes relative to normal-hearing listeners.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 20 postlingually deafened CI patients.
• Speech comprehension measured using monosyllabic words and digit triplets in quiet at various sound pressure levels (SPL).
• Speech reception thresholds evaluated in noise using the German matrix test with ForwardFocus enabled.

Main Results:

• High speech comprehension achieved at suprathreshold levels in quiet across all tested processors.
• Expanding the acoustic input dynamic range improved speech comprehension at lower presentation levels.
• ForwardFocus technology significantly improved speech reception in noise.
• A consistent improvement in speech perception was observed across the three generations of CI sound processors.

Conclusions:

• Further development in signal pre-processing for CI sound processors is warranted.
• Clinical focus should include optimizing performance at lower stimulation levels.
• Automation of noise reduction strategies like ForwardFocus could enhance CI usability.