Auditory benefit self-assessment and speech recognition in cochlear implant users

ABSTRACT

Purpose

To correlate the performance of unilateral cochlear implant users in speech recognition tests, in quiet and noise, with the answers to the Hearing Implant Sound Quality Index (HISQUI19) self-assessment questionnaire; also, to correlate the performance in speech recognition tests with the time of CI use and the implanted ear.

Methods

A total of 27 unilateral CI users with postlingual hearing loss, who had been using the device for at least one year and had free-field pure-tone threshold lower than 40 dBA, participated in the study. All the participants were submitted to free-field pure-tone audiometry, answered the HISQUI19 questionnaire, and took speech recognition tests in quiet and noise.

Results

The answers to the questionnaire were compared with the speech recognition tests in quiet and noise; there was no statistically significant difference. When comparing with the time of CI use, there was a statistically significant difference only for the speech recognition test in quiet. There was no significant correlation between speech recognition and the implanted ear.

Conclusion

Regardless of the time of CI use and/or performance in the speech recognition tests, many participants classified the sound quality of their cochlear implant as moderate. Administering tests to measure the users’ level of satisfaction and benefit should integrate the clinical routine in implantation centers.

Keywords:
Cochlear implant; Speech perception; Noise; Questionnaires; Hearing; Self-assessment