Auditory learning and adaptation after cochlear implantation: a preliminary study of discrimination and labeling of vowel sounds by cochlear implant users.
This study examined two possible reasons underlying longitudinal increases in vowel identification by cochlear implant users: improved labeling of vowel sounds and improved electrode discrimination. The Multidimensional Phoneme Identification (MPI) model was used to obtain ceiling estimates of vowel identification for each subject, given his/her electrode discrimination skills. Vowel identification scores were initially lower than the ceiling estimates, but they gradually approached them over the first few months post-implant. Taken together, the present results suggest that improved labeling is the main mechanism explaining post-implant increases in vowel identification.
Svirsky
M A
MA
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis 46202-5200, USA.
Silveira
A
A
Suarez
H
H
Neuburger
H
H
Lai
T T
TT
Simmons
P M
PM
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003054:Cochlear Implants / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010700:Phonetics; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests