Performance of the new Clarion speech processor 1.2 in quiet and in noise.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the benefit of the new Clarion speech processor 1.2.


METHODS
Fifty-two subjects who received a Clarion cochlear implant during 1993 and 1995 were upgraded with the new Clarion speech processor 1.2. All subjects were tested with a speech test battery in quiet and in noise, first with the 1.0 processor and 1 month later with the new 1.2 processor. To avoid ceiling or floor effects, the subjects were divided into three groups according to their test results with the Freiburger Monosyllabic Word Test (group A < 10%, group B 10-50%, and group C > 50%).


RESULTS
The results indicated that all subjects had an improvement with the new speech processor. This improvement was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for group C in all conditions, and for group B in the tests with noise.


CONCLUSIONS
While the better and good performers improved their test scores significantly, low performers seemed to derive little benefit from the technical improvements of the same speech processing strategy. Perhaps this group might gain more from a different processing scheme.
Battmer
R D
RD
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
Feldmeier
I
I
Kohlenberg
A
A
Lenarz
T
T
D002675:Child, Preschool; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003638:Deafness / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D009622:Noise; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013067:Speech Perception