Determining the minimum number of electrodes that need to be pitch matched to accurately estimate pitch matches across the array.
Julia Stelmach, David M Landsberger, Monica Padilla and 1 others
PMID 28697658WHAT IT FOUND
Pitch matching for bilateral cochlear implant users can be completed in seven minutes using just nine electrodes.
This brief testing period accurately estimates matches across the entire array, making the procedure feasible for clinical appointments.
Key findings
01Nine pitch matches are sufficient to accurately determine pitch matches across the entire electrode array.
02The time required to conduct a pitch matching trial is approximately 46 seconds, meaning nine matches take about seven minutes.
03If the residual error in a nine-sample pitch match is greater than 1.38 mm, additional matching is required for accuracy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study used data collected from a specific brand of cochlear implants (Advanced Bionics) and relied on research interfaces rather than standard clinical software. The sample size was small (16 participants), and the analysis was retrospective, using existing data rather than collecting new prospective clinical outcomes. The method requires specialized software modifications to automate the mapping process, which may not be immediately available in all clinical settings.
Declared interests
The work was supported by the National Organization for Hearing Research and the NIH/NIDCD. No commercial conflicts of interest were declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that nine pitch matches are always sufficient for every patient. If the data from the first nine matches shows high variability (residuals greater than 1.38 mm), the patient requires additional testing to create an accurate map.