Telephone speech comprehension in children with multichannel cochlear implants

Area of Science:

• Audiology
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Prelingually deaf children often face challenges with auditory communication.
• Cochlear implants, like the Nucleus 22 prosthesis with the Speak strategy, offer a pathway to auditory perception.
• Evaluating functional communication skills, such as telephone use, is crucial for rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess telephone speech comprehension in prelingually deaf children using the Nucleus 22 cochlear implant.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of specific training using a dedicated telephone battery (Bate-fon).
• To determine if children can develop functional telephone communication abilities.

Main Methods:

• Six prelingually deaf children with Nucleus 22 implants (≥1.5 years experience) participated.
• A specialized telephone training battery (Bate-fon) with Spanish speech material was used.
• Tests were conducted 1.5-2 years post-implantation using standard acoustic telephone coupling.

Main Results:

• Averaged results showed increased correct responses with a second presentation of speech material.
• All participating children demonstrated some level of telephone communication ability.
• Training led to some children using the telephone for family communication.

Conclusions:

• Prelingually deaf children using the Nucleus 22 prosthesis can develop telephone speech comprehension.
• Targeted rehabilitation, including telephone use training, enhances communication skills.
• Cochlear implant technology facilitates functional auditory communication in daily life.