The effect of auditory experience on speech perception, localization, and functional performance of children who use a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in opposite ears.
This study was aimed at determining the effect of auditory experience on binaural benefits from using a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in opposite ears. Eighteen children were evaluated using tests of speech perception, horizontal localization, and functional performance when they used either a cochlear implant alone (CI) or a cochlear implant with a hearing aid (CIHA). Eight were experienced CIHA users, whereas ten had not worn a hearing aid in the non-implanted ear for up to eight years prior to participation. All children were fitted with a hearing aid in the non-implanted ear using the NAL-RP prescription, and the hearing aids were fine-tuned individually using a paired-comparisons procedure and a loudness balancing test. Evaluation results indicated that performance for all measures was significantly better with CIHA than with CI for both groups of children. We conclude that children who receive a unilateral cochlear implant should be encouraged to wear a hearing aid in the opposite ear where there is usable residual hearing.
Ching
Teresa Y C
TY
National Acoustic Laboratories, Chatswood, NSW, Australia. Teresa.Ching@nal.gov.au
Hill
Mandy
M
Brew
Jane
J
Incerti
Paula
P
Priolo
Sandra
S
Rushbrook
Emma
E
Forsythe
Linda
L
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013017:Sound Localization; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome