Temporal processing in postlingual adult users of cochlear implant

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Postlingual adults demonstrate impressive performance in speech recognition in silence after cochlear implant (CI) surgery. However, problems in central hearing abilities remain, which complicates understanding in certain situations, such as in competitive listening and in the perception of suprasegmental aspects of speech. OBJECTIVE: To assess the temporal processing abilities in postlingual adult users of CI. METHODS: Cross-sectional and descriptive study, with a non-probabilistic sample for convenience. The population was divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 12 postlingual adult users of cochlear implants and the control group consisted of 12 adults with normal hearing, matched for age and gender with the control group. The Frequency Pattern Test and the Gaps in Noise test were selected to assess temporal processing. Free-field testing was applied at 50 dB SL. RESULTS: Adult users of cochlear implant attained a mean temporal threshold of 16.33 ms and scored 47.7% in the pattern frequency test; the difference was statistically significant in comparison with the control group. CONCLUSION: It was verified that postlingual adult users of cochlear implants have significant alterations in temporal processing abilities in comparison to adults with normal hearing.

摘要及引言：语后聋成年患者在接受人工耳蜗（Cochlear Implant，CI）手术后，可在安静环境下展现出优异的言语识别能力。但中枢听觉功能仍存在异常，这使得患者在部分场景下的言语理解受到干扰，例如竞争性聆听环境以及对言语超音段特征的感知。
研究目的：评估语后聋成年人工耳蜗使用者的时间处理能力。
研究方法：本研究为横断面描述性研究，采用非概率便利抽样法。将研究对象分为两组：研究组纳入12名语后聋成年人工耳蜗使用者，对照组纳入12名年龄、性别与研究组匹配的正常听力成年人。本研究选用频率模式测试（Frequency Pattern Test）与噪声间隙测试（Gaps in Noise test）对受试者的时间处理能力进行评估，测试在自由声场环境下以50 dB感觉级（SL）进行。
研究结果：人工耳蜗使用者的平均时间阈值为16.33 ms，在频率模式测试中的得分率为47.7%；与对照组相比，上述指标的组间差异均具有统计学意义。
研究结论：本研究证实，与正常听力成年人相比，语后聋成年人工耳蜗使用者的时间处理能力存在显著异常。