title: Speech perception performance as a function of stimulus pulse rate and processing strategy preference for the Cochlear Nucleus CI24RE device: relation to perceptual threshold and loudness comfort profiles.
abstract: Current cochlear implants can operate at high pulse rates. The effect of increasing pulse rate on speech performance is not yet clear. Habituation to low rates may affect the outcome. This paper presents the results of three subsequent studies using different experimental paradigms, applying the Nucleus CI24RE device, and conducted by ten European implant teams. Pulse rate per channel varied from 500 to 3500 pulses per second with ACE and from 1200 to 3500 pps with CIS strategy. The results showed that the first rate presented had little effect on the finally preferred rate. Lower rates were preferred. The effect of pulse rate on word scores of post-linguistic implantees was small; high rates tended to give lower scores. However, there were no significant differences between the word scores across subjects if collected at the individually preferred pulse rate. High pulse rates were preferred when the post-implantation threshold was low.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Hochschule, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Rolf-Dieter
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Battmer
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dillier
authors.forename: Wai Kong
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Begall
authors.forename: Elisabeth Estrada
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Leypon
authors.forename: Juan C Falcón
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Manrique
authors.forename: Constantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Morera
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Müller-Deile
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wesarg
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarowski
authors.forename: Matthijs J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Killian
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: von Wallenberg
authors.forename: Guido F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Smoorenburg
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001302:Audiometry, Speech; D001307:Auditory Perception; D001309:Auditory Threshold; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005060:Europe; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008144:Loudness Perception; D008875:Middle Aged; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D017755:Prosthesis Fitting; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013067:Speech Perception; D055815:Young Adult