title: Role of slow temporal modulations in speech identification for cochlear implant users.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to assess whether the capacity of cochlear implant (CI) users to identify speech is determined by their capacity to perceive slow (< 20 Hz) temporal modulations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was achieved by studying the correlation between (1) phoneme identification in quiet and in a steady-state or fluctuating (8 Hz) noises, and (2) amplitude-modulation detection thresholds (MDTs) at 8 Hz (i.e. slow temporal modulations).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one CI users, unilaterally implanted with the same device, were tested in free field with their everyday clinical processor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Extensive variability across subjects was observed for both phoneme identification and MDTs. Vowel and consonant identification scores in quiet were significantly correlated with MDTs at 8 Hz (r = - 0.47 for consonants, r = - 0.44 for vowels; p < 0.05). When the masker was a steady-state noise, only consonant identification scores tended to correlate with MDTs at 8 Hz (r = - 0.4; p = 0.07). When the masker was a fluctuating noise, consonant and vowel identification scores were not significantly correlated with MDTs at 8 Hz.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sensitivity to slow amplitude modulations is correlated with vowel and consonant perception in CI users. However, reduced sensitivity to slow modulations does not entirely explain the limited capacity of CI recipients to understand speech in noise.
authors.affiliation: * Neurelec, Vallauris , France.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gnansia
authors.forename: Diane S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Lazard
authors.forename: Agnès C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Léger
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fugain
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lancelin
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lorenzi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019929:Cochlear Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D032882:Comprehension; D012048:Correction of Hearing Impairment / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003463:Cues; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009622:Noise / Q000009:adverse effects; D010470:Perceptual Masking; D019986:Persons with Hearing Disabilities / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D013061:Speech Acoustics; D013067:Speech Perception; D013997:Time Factors; D013998:Time Perception