Comparison of the Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test With the Arizona Biomedical Institute Sentence Test in Cochlear Implant Users.

The study included only 25 participants, and they were chosen based on availability, so the result is limited by a small, non-random sample. It tested an association, not a treatment effect, so it cannot show that SMRT scores cause better speech-in-noise performance or that map changes will improve speech. The first SMRT run acted as practice, and the authors did not examine how much learning would continue with more runs or test-retest reliability. The SMRT may have an upper range near 6 RPO in CI users, excluding one outlier, which could reduce its usefulness for high performers. The correlation did not account for all variability in speech scores, and other factors such as implant experience and age of implantation may matter. Unilateral users had no blocking or alteration of the contralateral side, and participants had varied prior experience with AzBio but little prior SMRT experience.

The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Do not conclude that SMRT can be used to select CI map settings. The study only showed a correlation with AzBio speech-in-noise scores in 25 CI users, the first SMRT run needed to be treated as practice, and the authors say further work is needed before clinical utility is proven.