Temporal cue based categorization and speech perception in noise among pediatric cochlear implant users

Voice onset time (VOT) has been identified as a potential temporal cue for predicting children's performance in speech-in-noise tasks, yet the relationship between these two factors has never been explored among children using CI. Hence, the present study aimed to explore the performance of children using CI on temporal cue-based syllable categorization test and speech perception in noise and examine the relationship between the two.

Temporal cue-based syllable categorization test was developed with the manipulation of /ba/ sound in 10 steps continuum with VOT varied between -74 ms to 26 ms. The developed test and revised speech in noise for Marathi-speaking children (0 and 5 dB SNR) were administered to thirty children with unilateral cochlear implant and thirty children with normal hearing, aged between 5 to 7 years.

The Mann-Whitney U test showed significant differences between groups in temporal cue-based categorization and speech in noise tests at 0 dB and 5 dB SNR. Kendall Tau B revealed a moderate correlation between implant age and scores on the temporal cue-based categorization and speech in noise tests at 0 dB SNR, with a strong correlation at 5 dB SNR. Additionally, there was a significant moderate relationship between temporal cue-based categorization and speech in noise test scores at both 0 dB and 5 dB SNR.

The present study highlights the importance of temporal cues in speech perception and the need for temporal processing for children using cochlear implants. It reinforces the evidence that speech perception skills improve with implant age.