Audiological Acoustics, ENT Department, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
ENT Department, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
PLoS One. 2019 Mar 6;14(3):e0213251. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0213251. eCollection 2019.
Combined electric-acoustic stimulation (EAS) is a well-accepted therapeutic treatment for cochlear implant (CI) users with residual hearing in the low frequencies but severe to profound hearing loss in the high frequencies. The recently introduced SONNETeas audio processor offers different microphone directionality (MD) settings and wind noise reduction (WNR) as front-end processing. The aim of this study was to compare speech perception in quiet and noise between two EAS audio processors DUET 2 and SONNETeas, to assess the impact of MD and WNR on speech perception in EAS users in the absence of wind. Furthermore, subjective rating of hearing performance was registered.
Speech perception and subjective rating with SONNETeas or DUET 2 audio processor were assessed in 10 experienced EAS users. Speech perception was measured in quiet and in a diffuse noise setup (MSNF). The SONNETeas processor was tested with three MD settings omnidirectional/natural/adaptive and with different intensities of WNR. Subjective rating of auditory benefit and sound quality was rated using two questionnaires.
There was no significant difference between DUET 2 and SONNETeas processor using the omnidirectional microphone in quiet and in noise. There was a significant improvement in SRT with MD settings natural (2.2 dB) and adaptive (3.6 dB). No detrimental effect of the WNR algorithm on speech perception was found in the absence of wind. Sound quality was rated as "moderate" for both audio processors.
The different MD settings of the SONNETeas can provide EAS users with better speech perception compared to an omnidirectional microphone. Concerning speech perception in quiet and quality of life, the performance of the DUET 2 and SONNETeas audio processors was comparable.
联合电-声刺激（EAS）是一种被广泛接受的治疗方案，适用于低频残余听力但高频严重至极重度听力损失的人工耳蜗植入（CI）使用者。最近推出的 SONNETeas 音频处理器提供了不同的麦克风指向性（MD）设置和防风噪声降低（WNR）作为前端处理。本研究旨在比较两种 EAS 音频处理器 DUET 2 和 SONNETeas 在安静环境和噪声环境下的言语感知，评估 MD 和 WNR 对无风声情况下 EAS 用户言语感知的影响。此外，还记录了听力性能的主观评估。
评估了 10 名经验丰富的 EAS 用户使用 SONNETeas 或 DUET 2 音频处理器的言语感知和主观评估。在安静环境和扩散噪声设置（MSNF）下测量言语感知。测试了 SONNETeas 处理器的三种 MD 设置（全向/自然/自适应）和不同强度的 WNR。使用两个问卷评估听觉受益和声音质量的主观评分。
在安静和噪声环境下，使用全向麦克风时，DUET 2 和 SONNETeas 处理器之间没有显著差异。在自然（2.2 dB）和自适应（3.6 dB）MD 设置下，SRT 有显著改善。在没有风声的情况下，WNR 算法对言语感知没有不利影响。两种音频处理器的声音质量均被评为“中等”。
与全向麦克风相比，SONNETeas 的不同 MD 设置可为 EAS 用户提供更好的言语感知。在安静环境下的言语感知和生活质量方面，DUET 2 和 SONNETeas 音频处理器的性能相当。
