The effect of auditory feedback on the control of oral-nasal balance by pediatric cochlear implant users

This study examined the control of oral-nasal balance by pediatric cochlear implant (CI) users, with and without auditory feedback.

Five CI users read lists of sentences in two conditions: with their devices on and with their devices off. Their oral-nasal balance (ratio of energy radiated from the oral and nasal cavities) was measured in both conditions and compared with values obtained from children with normal hearing.

CI users showed different patterns of abnormal oral-nasal balance with their devices off, but they generally achieved values that were closer to normal when their devices were on.

The results suggest that children with CIs use the auditory signal provided by their device to improve their control of nasalization. It is also possible that at least part of the changes in oral-nasal balance were driven by changes in related articulatory parameters.