Factors Affecting Visual-Only Speech Recognition in Individuals With Cochlear Implants

Objectives: Several reports have underlined the benefits of speechreading (visual-only speech recognition) on speech recognition in individuals with hearing loss after cochlear implantation (CI). However, the factors that would affect the ability of speechreading are unclear. The aim of the present study is to assess the factors that affect speechreading abilities in CI users. Methods: A total of 104 participants were enrolled in this retrospective study. They viewed silent videos of sentences being spoken by a model and were tasked with repeating what they thought had been said. They were tested under audio-only and visual-only conditions. Factors (such as the age, the age of CI; <3 years old vs 3-8 years old; male vs female, etc) believed to affect speechreading abilities were analyzed. Results: The age range of the participants is 8 to 34 years. CI users showed significantly different speechreading abilities among themselves. The authors found that age and hearing loss at 3 to 8 years of age were positively related to superior speechreading recognition scores. Conclusions: CI users followed a more complex method of perceptual compensation. Those who have suffered hearing loss between 3 and 8 years of age are more sensitive to developing an advantage in speech recognition by using speechreading. Older age positively affects speechreading abilities; thus, the more experience CI has, the greater speechreading ability they may exhibit.