Sensory aids in conjunction with cochlear implants.
The use of cochlear implants in profoundly hearing-impaired individuals can restore varying degrees of auditory capabilities. Although very little auditory information is transmitted to these patients through amplification systems, we hypothesized that some of the cues obtained from sensory aids might be helpful when used in conjunction with the cochlear implant postoperatively. Eight patients implanted at NYU Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, have used some sensory aid in addition to the Nucleus multichannel cochlear prosthesis. All subjects were evaluated using standard auditory tests including pure-tone and speech audiometry, portions of the Minimal Auditory Capabilities (MAC), Speech Pattern Contrast Perception (SPAC), Iowa test batteries; and the Early Speech Perception (ESP), Word Intelligibility by Picture Identification (WIPI), and Glendonald Auditory Screening Procedure (GASP), where appropriate. Subjects were evaluated under three conditions: implant alone, implant plus sensory aid, and sensory aid alone. Results indicate that the interaction between a multichannel cochlear implant and a sensory aid can provide some improved performance for adult implanted patients (i.e., they do better under the dual condition than in the implant-alone condition). Variables such as thresholds in the nonimplanted ear and usage time can affect the outcome.
Waltzman
S B
SB
Department of Otolaryngology, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016.
Cohen
N L
NL
Shapiro
W H
WH
D000328:Adult; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013067:Speech Perception