The current fitting approach adopted for cochlear implant (CI) users falls along the lines of """"""""one-size-fits-all"""""""", in that it is assumed that the initial fitting in the clinic should work equally well in all listening environments. Speech coding algorithms and associated parameters (e.g., compression function) are fixed and are not optimized in any way by either the patient or clinician for different listening situations (e.g., quiet, music, noise). The present study addresses this major limitation with the use of a portable research speech processor that allows users to: (a) change MAP parameters based on two different outcome measures (subjective quality ratings and consonant intelligibility) (b) customize the MAP to different listening situations for maximum benefit, and (c) collect feedback and allow the recording of real acoustic signals for further analysis. In this study, unilateral, bilateral and bimodal users will participate in double-blind field trials to assess the true benefit of a speech processor that can be easily customized by the users to fit their needs based on subjective quality ratings or speech intelligibility measures. The overarching hypothesis of this project is that maximum benefit, both in terms of subjective quality and intelligibility, can be obtained when the cochlear implant devices are customized (by the users) to the various listening situations. The outcomes of the field studies will tell us about the difficulties experienced by CI users in real-world situations as well as the value and additional benefit of customizing speech coding algorithms to different environments, all based on feedback from CI users. Such feedback and user interaction can not be gathered using existing commercial processors, yet it is critically needed to move the field forward.

Public Health Relevance

The outcomes of this work can greatly benefit the overall quality of life for a large number of cochlear implant users. Cochlear implant users who are able to communicate effectively in noisy environments have greater opportunity for integration into mainstream education, increase their productivity at home or work and contribute more in the nation's economic growth and competitiveness.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DC010494-02
Application #
8113155
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-IFCN-B (02))
Program Officer
Miller, Roger
Project Start
2010-08-01
Project End
2015-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2012-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$508,341
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Texas-Dallas
Department
Engineering (All Types)
Type
Schools of Engineering
DUNS #
800188161
City
Richardson
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
75080
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Lee, Jaewook; Ali, Hussnain; Ziaei, Ali et al. (2017) The Lombard effect observed in speech produced by cochlear implant users in noisy environments: A naturalistic study. J Acoust Soc Am 141:2788
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Hossain, Shaikat; Montazeri, Vahid; Assmann, Peter F et al. (2015) Precedence based speech segregation in bilateral cochlear implant users. J Acoust Soc Am 138:EL545-50
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