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Updated: Aug 7, 2025
Systematic Hearing Performance Evaluation Process for Adolescents with Cochlear Implantation at Early Ages
Published on: March 24, 2023
Evaluation of the American English Matrix Test with Cochlear Implant Recipients
Lisa G Potts1, Alison M Olivo2, Ruth M Reeder1
1Department of Otolaryngology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA.
Objective:
Currently, the variety of speech recognition tests used to evaluate cochlear implant (CI) recipients makes it difficult to compare results, especially across languages. The Matrix Test limits contextual cues and is available in multiple languages, including American English. The current study investigated test format and noise type for the American English Matrix Test (AMT) and compared results to AzBio sentence scores in adult CI recipients.
Design:
Fifteen experienced CI recipients were administered the AMT in fixed- and adaptive-level formats and AzBio sentences in a fixed-level format. Testing in noise used the AMT-specific noise and 4-talker babble.
Results:
Ceiling effects were present for all AMT fixed-level conditions and AzBio sentences in quiet. Group mean AzBio scores were poorer than AMT scores. Noise type affected performance regardless of format; 4-talker babble was more challenging.
Conclusions:
The limited number of word choices in each category likely aided listeners performance for the AMT compared to AzBio sentences. The use of the AMT in the designed adaptive-level format would allow effective evaluation and comparison of CI performance internationally. A test battery with the AMT may also benefit from including AzBio sentences in 4-talker babble to reflect performance during listening challenges.
