A novel cochlear implant assessment tool: audiometric and speech recognition analysis
cochlear implant, speech perception, noise, auditory thresholds
Introduction: To evaluate the results with the cochlear implant (CI), it is necessary to evaluat e the thresholds with pure tone audiometry (PTA) and the speech recognition tests in silence and noise. The sound booth (SB) is the traditional tool for these evaluations, however, the Direct Audio Input - DAI, can also evaluate the hearing capacity and the performance of users with CI, in this way, the company Cochlear Corporation launched the CLABOX, to be used with the DAI connection. Objective: To compare the evaluations between the CLABOX and the SB in PTA and in the speech recognition test. Material and Method: The study included 33 adults and 17 children, aged from 8 years old, 15 bilateral CI users and 35 unilateral CI users, all with severe to profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss. All participants underwent evaluations in the SB, with free field, and in the CLABOX, with DAI connection. Assessments performed: PTA, speech perception tests, with the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), Ling sounds and visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: In HINT with adaptive noise, the results were significant (p value = 0.007); the S/N ratio was 2.14dB in the CLABOX and 3.42dB in the SB. For the four-tone mean, the mean thresholds for CLABOX and SB were 29.8dB and 23dB, respectively (p-values < 0.001). The VAS results were higher in the CLABOX, but there was no significant difference compared to the SB. Conclusion: CLABOX was an effective tool to evaluate PTA and speech perception tests, when compared to the SB in the CI user population.