SPEECH-PERCEPTION PERFORMANCE IN EXPERIENCED COCHLEAR-IMPLANT PATIENTS RECEIVING THE SPEAK PROCESSING STRATEGY IN THE NUCLEUS SPECTRA-22 COCHLEAR IMPLANT

Sixteen experienced cochlear implant patients with a wide range of spe ech-perception abilities received the SPEAK processing strategy in the Nucleus Spectra-22 cochlear implant. Speech perception was assessed i n quiet and in noise with SPEAK and with the patients' previous strate gies (for most, Multipeak) at the study onset, as well as after using SPEAK for 6 months. Comparisons were made within and across the two te st sessions to elucidate possible learning effects. Patients were also asked to rate the strategies on seven speech recognition and sound qu ality scales. After 6 months' experience with SPEAK, patients showed s ignificantly improved mean performance on a range of speech recognitio n measures in quiet and noise. When mean subjective ratings were compa red over time there were no significant differences noted between stra tegies. However, many individuals rated the SPEAK strategy better For two or more of the seven subjective measures. Ratings for ''appreciati on of music'' and ''quality of my own voice'' in particular were gener ally higher for SPEAK. Improvements were realized by patients with a w ide range of speech perception abilities, including those with little or no open-set speech recognition.