Abstract
FM systems are widely used by children wearing cochlear implants, however there have been few studies of the benefit FM systems provide. This study investigated the speech-in-noise perception of fourteen children aged between 7 and 17 years who use a cochlear implant. Their speech perception was measured using the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), a test of open-set sentence perception. The signal-to noise ratio was varied from 0 to -3 dB and a recording of actual classroom noise was used as the background noise. Noise was presented from four loudspeakers at 45 , 135 , 225 , and 315 azimuth to simulate classroom listening conditions. Significant FM benefit was found for the 0 and -3 dB SNR conditions. There was an interaction between subject age and FM benefit, with older children showing greater benefit. Younger children had more varied test results. Nine subjects (64%) had a measurable FM advantage based on HINT sentence scores. A small increase in noise level of 3 dB had a negative effect on speech perception, and the use of an FM system helped to counter this effect in most of the children.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have