Effect of Spectral Channels on Speech Recognition, Comprehension, and Listening Effort in Cochlear-Implant Users.

The CI users were selected for high clinical speech scores, so the findings may not apply to CI users with poorer speech recognition. 34 CI users were recruited, but 25 were analysed; exclusions were due to health, technical problems, or inability to follow instructions. The study used research processor maps and laboratory presentation. Experiment 1 used slower, easier sentences and a dual-task measure that may not be sensitive enough to detect listening effort changes. Experiment 2 used different, normal-speed sentences, so the difference between tasks could be due to the materials rather than the measure alone. The maximum experimental map had 15 active electrodes, although participants' daily maps had at least 15 and arrays could have up to 22. Individual reaction times varied widely among CI users, and age did not explain this variation.

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Do not conclude that more active electrodes always improve speech recognition or reduce listening effort. Sentence repetition and the dual-task reaction times did not show a significant electrode effect, and the benefit appeared only on the sentence verification task.