Cowan R S, Blamey P J, Galvin K L, Sarant J Z, Alcántara J I, Clark G M
Department of Otolaryngology, University of Melbourne, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Victoria, Australia.
J Acoust Soc Am. 1990 Sep;88(3):1374-84. doi: 10.1121/1.399715.
Fourteen prelinguistically profoundly hearing-impaired children were fitted with the multichannel electrotactile speech processor (Tickle Talker) developed by Cochlear Pty. Ltd. and the University of Melbourne. Each child participated in an ongoing training and evaluation program, which included measures of speech perception and production. Results of speech perception testing demonstrate clear benefits for children fitted with the device. Thresholds for detection of pure tones were lower for the Tickle Talker than for hearing aids across the frequency range 250-4000 Hz, with the greatest tactual advantage in the high-frequency consonant range (above 2000 Hz). Individual and mean speech detection thresholds for the Ling 5-sound test confirmed that speech sounds were detected by the electrotactile device at levels consistent with normal conversational speech. Results for three speech feature tests showed significant improvement when the Tickle Talker was used in combination with hearing aids (TA) as compared with hearing aids along (A). Mean scores in the TA condition increased by 11% for vowel duration, 20% for vowel formant, and 25% for consonant manner as compared with hearing aids alone. Mean TA score on a closed-set word test (WIPI) was 48%, as compared with 32% for hearing aids alone. Similarly, mean WIPI score for the combination of Tickle Talker, lipreading, and hearing aids (TLA) increased by 6% as compared with combined lipreading and hearing aid (LA) scores. Mean scores on open-set sentences (BKB) showed a significant increase of 21% for the tactually aided condition (TLA) as compared with unaided (LA). These results indicate that, given sufficient training, children can utilize speech feature information provided through the Tickle Talker to improve discrimination of words and sentences. These results indicate that, given sufficient training, children can utilize speech feature information provided through the Tickle Talker to improve discrimination of words and sentences. These results are consistent with improvement in speech discrimination previously reported for normally hearing and hearing-impaired adults using the device. Anecdotal evidence also indicates some improvements in speech production for children fitted with the Tickle Talker.
十四名语言前阶段严重听力受损的儿童佩戴了由科利耳有限公司和墨尔本大学研发的多通道电触觉言语处理器（挠痒痒交谈器）。每个孩子都参与了一个持续的培训和评估项目，其中包括言语感知和言语产出的测评。言语感知测试结果表明，佩戴该设备的儿童明显受益。在250 - 4000赫兹的频率范围内，挠痒痒交谈器检测纯音的阈值低于助听器，在高频辅音范围（2000赫兹以上）触觉优势最大。林氏五音测试的个体和平均言语检测阈值证实，电触觉设备能够在与正常对话言语一致的水平上检测到语音。三项言语特征测试结果显示，与仅使用助听器（A）相比，挠痒痒交谈器与助听器联合使用（TA）时，有显著改善。与仅使用助听器相比，TA条件下元音时长的平均得分提高了11%，元音共振峰提高了20%，辅音方式提高了25%。在闭集单词测试（WIPI）中，TA的平均得分是48%，而仅使用助听器时为32%。同样，与唇读和助听器联合使用（LA）的得分相比，挠痒痒交谈器、唇读和助听器联合使用（TLA）的WIPI平均得分提高了6%。在开放式句子（BKB）测试中，与无辅助（LA）相比，触觉辅助条件（TLA）的平均得分显著提高了21%。这些结果表明，经过充分训练，儿童可以利用挠痒痒交谈器提供的言语特征信息来提高对单词和句子的辨别能力。这些结果与之前报道的正常听力和听力受损成年人使用该设备后言语辨别能力的提高是一致的。轶事证据也表明，佩戴挠痒痒交谈器的儿童在言语产出方面也有一些改善。
