Effect of Age and Signal-to-Noise Ratio on Speech Perception in Noise in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Users

Evaluating speech perception in hearing-impaired children is crucial for assessing their listening abilities and the effectiveness of hearing aids or cochlear implants. This provides clinicians with valuable information to optimize the implant settings and offer targeted support, thereby improving the children's communication outcomes in real-world environments the present study aimed to explore trisyllabic word recognition in noise in children using cochlear implant between the hearing age of 3-6 years. Trisyllabic word recognition in noise test and parental questionnaire was administered on the 33 children using cochlear implant in the hearing age range of 3-6 years which were divided into three groups (Group I: 3-4 years, Group II: 4-5 years, Group III: 5-6 years) with 11 participants in each group. Children using cochlear implant shows poor speech perception scores as compared to typically normally developing children across all age group. Also, as the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) increases, children using cochlear implant across different age range show an improvement in their speech perception scores. Additionally, young children need a more favorable SNR than older children to effectively understand speech in noisy environments. The speech recognition in noise test will help in optimizing classroom acoustics for hearing-impaired children. SNR-based evaluation can provide guidance regarding interventions, habilitation, implant setting and auditory training, ensuring effective education and communication for children with hearing impairment. Also it can help in rehabilitative process of hearing impaired children in terms of selecting appropriate amplification systems, recommending assistive listening devices, and facilitating auditory training.