Graeme Clark Collection

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    Introduction: International Cochlear Implant, Speech and Hearing Symposium - Melbourne 1994
    Clark, Graeme M. ; Cowan, Robert S. C. ( 1995)
    The International Cochlear Implant Speech and Hearing Symposium - Melbourne 1994 covered a wide range of presentations in a number of disciplines. The scientific program included 287 oral presentations and 40 posters, presented to a total of 456 delegates from 38 countries. This was a considerable expansion in the number and range of presentations from the first international conference held in Melbourne in 1985 (Ann Otol Rhinal Laryngal 1987;96[suppl 128]). This growth highlights the importance of the discipline and the advances being made in this area.
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    Speech perception in children using the advanced Speak speech-processing strategy
    Cowan, R. S. C. ; Brown, C. ; Whitford, L. A. ; Galvin, K. L. ; Sarant, J. Z. ; Barker, E. J. ; Shaw, S. ; King, A. ; Skok, M. ; Seligman, P. M. ; Dowell, R. C. ; Everingham, C. ; Gibson, W. P. R. ; Clark, Graeme M. ( 1995)
    The Speak speech-processing strategy, developed by the University of Melbourne and commercialized by Cochlear Pty Limited for use in the new Spectra 22 speech processor, has been shown to provide improved speech perception for adults in both quiet and noisy situations. The present study evaluated the ability of children experienced in the use of the Multipeak (Mpeak) speech-processing strategy (implemented in the Nucleus Minisystem-22 cochlear implant) to adapt to and benefit from the advanced Speak speech-processing strategy (implemented in the Nucleus Spectra 22 speech processor). Twelve children were assessed using Mpeak and Speak over a period of 8 months. All of the children had over 1 year's previous experience with Mpeak, and all were able to score significantly on open-set word and sentence tests using the cochlear implant alone. Children were assessed with both live-voice and recorded speech materials, including Consonant-Nucleus-Consonant monosyllabic words and Speech Intelligibility Test sentences. Assessments were made in both quiet and in noise. Assessments were made at 3-week intervals to investigate the ability of the children to adapt to the new speech-processing strategy. For most of the children, a significant advantage was evident when using the Speak strategy as compared with Mpeak. For 4 of the children, there was no decrement in speech perception scores immediately following fitting with Speak. Eight of the children showed a small (10% to 20%) decrement in speech perception scores for between 3 and 6 weeks following the changeover to Speak. After 24 weeks' experience with Speak, 11 of the children had shown a steady increase in speech perception scores, with final Speak scores higher than for Mpeak. Only 1 child showed a significant decrement in speech perception with Speak, which did not recover to original Mpeak levels.