Perception of suprasegmental speech features via bimodal stimulation: cochlear implant on one ear and hearing aid on the other.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the contribution of acoustic hearing to the perception of suprasegmental features by adults who use a cochlear implant (CI) and a hearing aid (HA) in opposite ears.


METHODS
23 adults participated in this study. Perception of suprasegmental features-intonation, syllable stress, and word emphasis-was assessed. All tests were administered in 2 conditions: CI alone and CI + HA (bimodal).


RESULTS
Scores were significantly higher in the bimodal condition in comparison to scores in CI alone for all 3 tests. In both conditions, there was great variability among the individual participants. Significant negative correlations emerged between perception of suprasegmental features and the unaided pure-tone average of the contralateral ear to the CI.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found a significant bimodal advantage for perception of all suprasegmental features, most probably due to the better low-frequency acoustic hearing that is provided by the HA. Outcomes suggest that in cases of residual hearing in the contralateral ear to the implanted ear, HA use should be encouraged.
Most
Tova
T
Tel-Aviv University, Israel. tovam@post.tau.ac.il
Harel
Tamar
T
Shpak
Talma
T
Luntz
Michal
M
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008954:Models, Biological; D010700:Phonetics; D013063:Speech Discrimination Tests; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult