The relationship between speech intelligibility and speech perception in cochlear implant patients

Introduction:

A profound hearing loss does not only affect the speech perception, but also might decrease speech production quality. The aim of this study was to compare these two outcome parameters after cochlear implantation.

Methods:

In this prospective clinical trial we compared the correlation of receptive abilities (speech perception) and quality of speech production in 43 CI-patients provided with implants of different producers by using an objective automatic speech recognition system. The speech recognition system is adapted to medical needs and rates the precision of articulation regardless of context. The percentage of correctly "recognized" words in a standard text serves as word recognition rate. For the evaluation of speech perception, the Freiburger test (numbers and monosyllables) and the Oldenburg sentence test in quiet and in noise were used.

Results:

There is a significant correlation between the degree of speech intelligibility and the results of the speech audiometric tests only between the word recognition rate and the Freiburger monosyllable test (p = 0,030).

Conclusions:

The quality of speech production is not only a function of hearing but includes other influences. This should be considered during rehabilitation.

Publication History

Publication Date:
18 April 2018 (online)