Speech Perception Outcomes with the Anatomy-Based Fitting Map among Experienced, Adult Cochlear Implant Users: A...

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Speech Science

Background:

• Cochlear implant (CI) programming faces challenges with frequency-to-place mismatch (FPM).
• Anatomy-based fitting (ABF) is an emerging technique to optimize electrode placement and reduce FPM.
• Conventional-based fitting (CBF) serves as the current standard for CI programming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare vowel and consonant perception in quiet and noise using ABF versus CBF in experienced adult CI users.
• To evaluate the longitudinal effects of ABF on speech perception over six months.
• To assess the impact of ABF on identifying sounds with voicing cues.

Main Methods:

• Nine experienced adult CI users participated in a longitudinal study.
• Postoperative CT scans and Otoplan software were used for electrode localization.
• Maestro 9.0 software generated ABF maps based on anatomical data.
• Speech perception was tested using nonsense syllables (CVC) in quiet and noise (+5 dB SNR) at baseline, 3, and 6 months.
• Vowels (/a, i, u/) and consonants (voiced /b, d, g/, voiceless /p, t, k/) were assessed.

Main Results:

• ABF maps demonstrated significant shifts in center frequency compared to CBF maps.
• Mean vowel and consonant identification scores were significantly higher with ABF than CBF (p < 0.05).
• A positive trend in speech perception improvement over time was observed with ABF.
• Voiced consonants showed better recognition scores than voiceless consonants.

Conclusions:

• ABF maps significantly improve vowel and consonant perception in experienced adult CI users.
• ABF enhances the perception of sounds with voicing cues, beneficial for voice detection in noise.
• Correcting place mismatch using ABF maps offers a promising approach to improve CI speech perception.