Comparing Bilateral and Single-Sided Deafness Cochlear Implant Recipients in a Novel Speech-in-Noise and Localization Task

Monday, September 30, 2024

9:48 AM – 9:54 AM EDT

Location: MBCC, 231

Disclosure(s):

Obada Abdulrazzak, BA:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Nadine I. Ibrahim, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Madison V. Epperson, MD:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: This study explores how individuals with cochlear implants for bilateral hearing loss (BiCI) and single-sided deafness (SSD-CI) use compensatory mechanisms for sound localization and speech-in-noise (SIN) comprehension. Employing a novel combined modality paradigm, the research quantitatively studies adaptive behaviors enhancing binaural hearing-related tasks.

Methods: Subjects are positioned in a dark semi-anechoic chamber and allowed free head movement. Stimuli consist of Harvard IEEE sentences with varying signal-to-noise ratios (SNR). An electromagnetic head-tracking system monitors head movement. Outcome measures include head movement patterns, localization accuracy, and SIN performance. Statistical analyses will include ANOVA and non-parametric mean comparisons to evaluate differences between groups and stimulus conditions.

Results: Preliminary analysis demonstrates an effect of SNR on head movement across groups. BiCI and SSD-CI show prolonged delays and increased movement compared with NH. More challenging SNR correlate with less precision and more movement delay. Considerably, SSD-CI exhibit a response time akin to NH and shorter than BiCI. BiCI localization responses cluster around the optimal performance, but exhibit greater SNR-dependent variability and error magnitude than NH, while SSD-CI show a markedly higher degree of error and variability compared to BiCI. NH and SSD-CI speech performance improved with SNR, reaching near-optimal levels, while BiCI users faced ongoing challenges without comparable accuracy, even at the highest SNR.

Conclusions: BiCI and SSD-CI subjects encounter challenges with binaural hearing with exaggerated head movements, slower response times, less accurate localization responses. Notably, SSD-CI candidates display less accurate localization patterns but demonstrate superior SIN comprehension performance when compared to their BiCI counterparts. The study underscores the intricate interplay of adaptive behaviors in BiCI and SSD-CI users, showcasing successes and challenges in optimizing binaural hearing performance.

Presenting Author(s)

Obada Abdulrazzak, BA

Medical Student
University of Michigan
Ypsilanti, MI, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

Nadine I. Ibrahim, MD

Resident Physician
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
GJ

Gerilyn Jones, AuD

University of Michigan, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Madison V. Epperson, MD

Surgical Resident
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.
JG

Jackson Graves, PhD

University of Michigan, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
CK

Carolyn Kroger, PhD

University of Michigan, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

Renee M. Banakis Hartl, MD, AuD

Assistant Professor
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.