title: Potential Benefits of an Integrated Electric-Acoustic Sound Processor with Children: A Preliminary Report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A number of published studies have demonstrated the benefits of electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) over conventional electric stimulation for adults with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss. These benefits potentially include better speech recognition in quiet and in noise, better localization, improvements in sound quality, better music appreciation and aptitude, and better pitch recognition. There is, however, a paucity of published reports describing the potential benefits and limitations of EAS for children with functional low-frequency acoustic hearing and severe-to-profound high-frequency hearing loss.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to explore the potential benefits of EAS for children.
  
  
  METHODS
  A repeated measures design was used to evaluate performance differences obtained with EAS stimulation versus acoustic- and electric-only stimulation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven users of Cochlear Nucleus Hybrid, Nucleus 24 Freedom, CI512, and CI422 implants were included in the study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sentence recognition (assayed using the pediatric version of the AzBio sentence recognition test) was evaluated in quiet and at three fixed signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) (0, +5, and +10 dB). Functional hearing performance was also evaluated with the use of questionnaires, including the comparative version of the Speech, Spatial, and Qualities, the Listening Inventory for Education Revised, and the Children's Home Inventory for Listening Difficulties.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Speech recognition in noise was typically better with EAS compared to participants' performance with acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, particularly when evaluated at the less favorable SNR. Additionally, in real-world situations, children generally preferred to use EAS compared to electric-only stimulation. Also, the participants' classroom teachers observed better hearing performance in the classroom with the use of EAS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of EAS provided better speech recognition in quiet and in noise when compared to performance obtained with use of acoustic- and electric-only stimulation, and children responded favorably to the use of EAS implemented in an integrated sound processor for real-world use.
authors.affiliation: Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors.forename: Jace
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wolfe
authors.affiliation: Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Neumann
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX.
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schafer
authors.affiliation: Hearts for Hearing Foundation, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marsh
authors.affiliation: Otologic Medical Clinic at the Hough Ear Institute, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Otologic Medical Clinic at the Hough Ear Institute, Oklahoma City, OK.
authors.forename: R Stanley
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001299:Audiometry / Q000379:methods; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D004558:Electric Stimulation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006310:Hearing Aids; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013067:Speech Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome