Binaural redundancy and inter-aural time difference cues for patients wearing a cochlear implant and a hearing aid in opposite ears

Int J Audiol. 2005 Sep;44(9):513-21. doi: 10.1080/14992020500190003.

Abstract

We investigated speech perception advantages arising from the use of inter-aural time difference cues, and from the provision of redundant information by the use of a hearing aid contralateral to a cochlear implant (bimodal hearing devices). Thirty-eight subjects (14 normally hearing and 23 hearing-impaired) participated in this study. The effect of binaural redundancy was assessed by comparing the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) required for 50% correct identification of sentences in noise when listening monaurally to that when listening binaurally. The use of inter-aural time difference cues was determined by comparing the binaural SNRs obtained with or without a noise delay of 700 micros between ears. Results indicated adults who used bimodal hearing devices benefited from binaural redundancy, but children did not. Whereas normally hearing subjects used inter-aural time difference cues to improve speech perception in noise, neither adults nor children who used bimodal hearing devices were able to do so.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Auditory Threshold
  • Child
  • Cochlear Implants*
  • Cues*
  • Female
  • Hearing Aids*
  • Hearing Loss, Bilateral / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Speech Perception*
  • Speech Reception Threshold Test
  • Time Factors