Auditory learning and adaptation after cochlear implantation: A preliminary study of discrimination and labeling of vowel sounds by cochlear implant users

This study examined two possible reasons underlying longitudinal increases in vowel identification by cochlear implant users: improved labeling of vow el sounds and improved electrode discrimination. The Multidimensional Phone me Identification (MPI) model was used to obtain ceiling estimates of vowel identification for each subject, given his/her electrode discrimination sk ills. Vowel identification scores were initially lower than the ceiling est imates, but they gradually approached them over the first few months post-i mplant. Taken together, the present results suggest that improved labeling is the main mechanism explaining post-implant increases in vowel identifica tion.