Speech Recognition in Adults With Cochlear Implants: The Effects of Working Memory, Phonological Sensitivity, and Aging. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2017 Apr 14;60(4):1046-1061
Date
04/07/2017Pubmed ID
28384805Pubmed Central ID
PMC5548076DOI
10.1044/2016_JSLHR-H-16-0119Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85017518058 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 48 CitationsAbstract
PURPOSE: Models of speech recognition suggest that "top-down" linguistic and cognitive functions, such as use of phonotactic constraints and working memory, facilitate recognition under conditions of degradation, such as in noise. The question addressed in this study was what happens to these functions when a listener who has experienced years of hearing loss obtains a cochlear implant.
METHOD: Thirty adults with cochlear implants and 30 age-matched controls with age-normal hearing underwent testing of verbal working memory using digit span and serial recall of words. Phonological capacities were assessed using a lexical decision task and nonword repetition. Recognition of words in sentences in speech-shaped noise was measured.
RESULTS: Implant users had only slightly poorer working memory accuracy than did controls and only on serial recall of words; however, phonological sensitivity was highly impaired. Working memory did not facilitate speech recognition in noise for either group. Phonological sensitivity predicted sentence recognition for implant users but not for listeners with normal hearing.
CONCLUSION: Clinical speech recognition outcomes for adult implant users relate to the ability of these users to process phonological information. Results suggest that phonological capacities may serve as potential clinical targets through rehabilitative training. Such novel interventions may be particularly helpful for older adult implant users.
Author List
Moberly AC, Harris MS, Boyce L, Nittrouer SAuthor
Michael S. Harris MD Associate Professor in the Otolaryngology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AgedAged, 80 and over
Aging
Cochlear Implants
Decision Making
Female
Hearing Loss
Humans
Language Tests
Male
Memory, Short-Term
Mental Recall
Mental Status Schedule
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Pattern Recognition, Physiological
Phonetics
Reaction Time
Reproducibility of Results
Speech Perception
