Speech Quality Perception in Unilateral Cochlear Implant Users With Single-Sided Deafness

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Neurosurgery
• Speech-Language Pathology

Background:

• Cochlear implant (CI) users often report difficulties with speech quality perception (SQP).
• Concerns exist that impaired SQP from a CI in single-sided deafness may negatively affect binaural SQP (CI + normal hearing [NH]).

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if binaural SQP in unilateral CI users differs measurably from unimplanted NH alone.
• To determine if poorer CI SQP negatively impacts overall binaural SQP.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care center.
• Fifteen unilateral CI users with NH in the contralateral ear completed the Columbia Speech Quality Instrument.
• SQP was assessed using 9 audio clips rated on 14 qualities via a 10-point scale in three conditions: CI only, NH only, and CI + NH.

Main Results:

• Median SQP scores were significantly worse for CI only (50.0) compared to NH only (72.6) and binaural (71.0) conditions.
• No significant difference was found between NH only (72.6) and binaural (71.0) SQP scores.
• CI speech quality was perceived as less clear, less natural, and more mechanical compared to NH.

Conclusions:

• SQP is demonstrably poorer with a CI alone compared to NH.
• Contrary to expectations, binaural SQP in unilateral CI users is not significantly different from NH alone.
• These findings suggest that diminished CI speech perception does not detrimentally affect overall binaural SQP in individuals with single-sided deafness.