Effectiveness of computer-based auditory training for adult users of cochlear implants.
Cochlear implantation is effective at restoring partial hearing to profoundly deaf adults, but not all patients receive equal benefit. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of a computer-based self-administered training package that was designed to improve speech perception among adults who had used cochlear implants for more than three years. Eleven adults were asked to complete an hour of auditory training each day, five days a week, for a period of three weeks. Two training tasks were included, one based around discriminating isolated words, and the other around discriminating words in sentences. Compliance with the protocol was good, with eight out of eleven participants completing approximately 15 hours of training, as instructed. A significant improvement of eight percentage points was found on a test of consonant discrimination, but there were no significant improvements on sentence tests or on a test of vowel discrimination. Self-reported benefits were variable and generally small. Further research is needed to establish whether auditory training is particularly effective for identifiable sub-groups of cochlear-implant users.
Stacey
Paula C
PC
Division of Psychology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK. paula.stacey@ntu.ac.uk
Raine
Christopher H
CH
O'Donoghue
Gerard M
GM
Tapper
Lynne
L
Twomey
Tracey
T
Summerfield
A Quentin
AQ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors