Visual-aerotactile perception and congenital hearing loss

Abstract

Previous research on multimodal speech perception with hearing-impaired individuals focused on audiovisual integration with mixed results. Cochlear-implant users integrate audiovisual cues better than perceivers with normal hearing when perceiving congruent [Rouger et al. 2007, PNAS, 104(17), 7295–7300] but not incongruent cross-modal cues [Rouger et al. 2008, Brain Research 1188, 87–99), leading to the suggestion that early auditory exposure is required for typical speech integration processes to develop (Schorr 2005, PNAS, 102(51), 18748–18750). If a deficit of one modality does indeed lead to a deficit in multimodal processing, then hard of hearing perceivers should show different patterns of integration in other modality pairings. The current study builds on research showing that gentle puffs of air on the skin can push individuals with normal hearing to perceive silent bilabial articulations as aspirated. We report on a visual-aerotactile perception task comparing individuals with congenital hearing loss to those with normal hearing. Results indicate that aerotactile information facilitated identification of /pa/ for all participants (p < 0.001) and we found no significant difference between the two groups (normal hearing and congenital hearing loss). This suggests that typical multi-modal speech perception does not require access to all modalities from birth. [Funded by NIH.]Previous research on multimodal speech perception with hearing-impaired individuals focused on audiovisual integration with mixed results. Cochlear-implant users integrate audiovisual cues better than perceivers with normal hearing when perceiving congruent [Rouger et al. 2007, PNAS, 104(17), 7295–7300] but not incongruent cross-modal cues [Rouger et al. 2008, Brain Research 1188, 87–99), leading to the suggestion that early auditory exposure is required for typical speech integration processes to develop (Schorr 2005, PNAS, 102(51), 18748–18750). If a deficit of one modality does indeed lead to a deficit in multimodal processing, then hard of hearing perceivers should show different patterns of integration in other modality pairings. The current study builds on research showing that gentle puffs of air on the skin can push individuals with normal hearing to perceive silent bilabial articulations as aspirated. We report on a visual-aerotactile perception task comparing individuals with congenital hearing ...