The rehabilitation of patients with a total hearing loss using a multiple-channel cochlear implant [Abstract]

Abstract

Two profoundly deaf patients who have multiple-channel cochlear implants receive speech information through a speech processor. The speech processor encodes second formant and fundamental frequency information. Rehabilitation is concerned with evaluating the speech processor and training patients to improve speech perception. The patients have scores up to 37% and 27% on AB word lists, and 36% and 34% on NAL Everyday Sentences using the cochlear implant alone and repetition of the stimuli. However, to gain a better insight into the capabilities of the speech processor and to demonstrate its potential for the patients more investigative procedures have been used. These include the speech tracking method described by DeFillipo and Scott (1978) using the cochlear implant in conjunction with speech reading. Results indicate that patients have gained a two-fold and four-fold improvement in tracking rates (words per minute) using speech reading and the cochlear implant as opposed to speech reading alone.