Improving Outcomes of Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implant Users by Reducing Interaural Frequency and Loudness Mismatches through Device Programming.
Laura K Holden, Rosalie M Uchanski, Noël Y Dwyer and 3 others
PMID 40739862WHAT IT FOUND
For experienced single-sided deaf cochlear implant users, a modified frequency table and balanced loudness program improved speech recognition in noisy restaurant-like settings.
Newly implanted users showed no performance difference between programs, though most preferred the modified settings.
Key findings
01Experienced users showed significantly better speech recognition in noise (R-SPACE) with the modified frequency table compared to their everyday settings.
02Experienced users showed significantly better speech recognition in noise (R-SPACE) and preferred the modified loudness program over their everyday settings.
03Newly implanted users showed no significant differences in speech recognition, localization, or perceived ability between the default and modified frequency tables.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Sample sizes were small and participants were fairly homogeneous in age, duration of deafness, and device use. The modified frequency table was not individualized via pitch matching or CT imaging, which may have limited its effectiveness for some participants. Newly implanted participants had only 15 weeks of total exposure to the programs, which may not have been enough time to adjust or develop preferences. Participants were not blinded to the frequency table changes, as they could often distinguish between the programs.
Declared interests
The study was funded by an Investigator Initiated Research grant from Cochlear Americas. One author serves on the audiology advisory board for Cochlear Americas.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these programming changes will improve localization or speech recognition in quiet. The study found significant improvements only for speech recognition in noisy, restaurant-like environments and self-reported preferences, with no significant differences in other tested outcomes.