Clarion cochlear implant: short-term effects on voice parameters.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the moment-to-moment auditory control of voice at an early stage after implantation with Clarion cochlear implants.


METHODS
A perceptive and electroacoustic evaluation of the voice was carried out through a digital analysis immediately after the activation of the implant, before the fitting procedure has begun.


METHODS
The study was performed at the Department of Otolaryngology, University "La Sapienza" of Rome.


METHODS
Nine profoundly deaf subjects (five post-linguistic deaf adults, two pre-linguistic deaf children and two peri-linguistic deaf subjects, one adult and one child).


METHODS
Surgical insertion of a Clarion cochlear device.


METHODS
Qualitative (short-term pitch and energy perturbation, intonation, vocal attack, quality, and intensity) and quantitative (F0, F1, F2 and F3 frequency values), under non activated (NAI) and activated (AI) condition, have been obtained.


RESULTS
In the majority of patients, the perceptive evaluation under AI showed a lowering of voice intonation, a better control of voice intensity, and a reduction of nasal quality. These findings were confirmed by a significant lowering of F0 (Wicoxon non parametric test) in all cases and lowering of F1 and F2 in five cases. Additionally, a better definition of all formats in the majority of cases as well as by a parallelism of pitch and energy profile was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
The Clarion cochlear implant device provided a recognizable moment-to-moment auditory control on voice and articulatory patterns. By monitoring the articulated voice during adjustment of the electrical stimulation at the first fitting session, one may be able to include these data and assist in the selection of the best rehabilitative strategy.
Monini
S
S
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Rome La Sapienza, Italy.
Banci
G
G
Barbara
M
M
Argiro
M T
MT
Filipo
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation; D003638:Deafness / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010898:Pitch Perception; D013067:Speech Perception; D014833:Voice Quality