Spectral ripple discrimination and use of speech context factors in relation to speech perception in noise in...

To investigate the relation between spectral ripple discrimination and speech perception in noise in single-sided deaf (SSD) cochlear implant (CI) users, and to investigate the use of speech context in speech perception in noise, for both the normal-hearing (NH) and the CI ear.

Twenty adult SSD CI users (40 ears) participated in the study. We used the spectral-temporally modulated ripple test (SMRT) and measured speech reception thresholds (SRTs) with the consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC)-in-noise test, the hearing-in-noise (sentence) test (HINT), and the digits-in-noise (DIN) test. The use of speech context was explored by calculating j and s factors.

The SMRT scores were significantly correlated to the CVC, HINT, and DIN SRTs for the CI ears but not for the NH ears. No significant differences or correlations between the j and s speech context factors for the NH ear and CI ear were found. Only the CVC SRTs and the CVC context factors for the NH ears were significantly correlated.

The SMRT can be of added value in the evaluation of hearing performance of SSD CI users. The SSD patients utilised speech context to a similar degree with both the NH ear and the CI ear.