Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Cochlear implant mapping strategy to solve difficulty in speech recognition
Chan-Jung Chang1, Chuan-Hung Sun1,2, Chuan-Jen Hsu1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Taichung Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
Background:
Cochlear implants (CIs) are viable treatment options in patients with severe to profound hearing loss. Speech recognition difficulties were reported in some CI recipients even with a good-aided hearing threshold. The aim of this study was to report a mapping strategy based on different target-aided hearing thresholds to achieve optimal speech recognition and maximize functional outcomes. The safety and efficacy of the mapping strategy were also inspected in the article.
Methods:
This prospective repeated measures study enrolled 20 adult CI recipients with postlingual deafness using the MED-EL CI system. Word and sentence discrimination assessment and administration of a questionnaire pertaining to comfort level were conducted at the end of each session. The electrophysiological features of the CI mapping were recorded.
Results:
The correlation between audiometry results and word and sentence recognition was not high. CIs performed best at an audiometry threshold between 25 and 35 dB.
Conclusion:
CI performance with the best perception relies on a balance between minimizing the hearing threshold and maximizing the dynamic range while maintaining an appropriate comfort level, which was achieved when the target hearing threshold was set at 25-35 dB in this study.
