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J Am Acad Audiol 2020; 31(04): 246-256
DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.18060
Research Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Application of Digital Remote Wireless Microphone Technology in Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implant Recipients

Thomas Wesarg
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Yvonne Stelzig
2   Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Bundeswehrzentralkrankenhaus Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany
,
Dan Hilgert-Becker
3   CI-Centrum Rhein-Mosel-Lahn am Bundeswehrzentralkrankenhaus Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany
,
Bjorn Kathage
3   CI-Centrum Rhein-Mosel-Lahn am Bundeswehrzentralkrankenhaus Koblenz, Koblenz, Germany
,
Konstantin Wiebe
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Antje Aschendorff
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Susan Arndt
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
,
Iva Speck
1   Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
› Author Affiliations Funding The authors of this manuscript did not receive any monetary compensation for this study. Phonak GmbH (Fellbach-Oeffingen, Germany) provided a Roger™ system loaner to CI-Centrum Rhein-Mosel-Lahn for this study. This study was conducted in accordance with the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki (Washington, World Medical Association, 2013) and was approved by the ethics committee of the Landesarztekammer Rheinland-Pfalz.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
15 April 2020 (online)

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Abstract

Background Previous research showed benefits of remote wireless technology in bilaterally moderate- to-severe hearing-impaired participants provided with hearing aid(s), cochlear implant(s) (CIs), or bimodal devices as well as in single-sided deaf (SSD) cochlear implant recipients (with CI from Cochlear™) and normal-hearing (NH) participants.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of the digital remote wireless microphone system, Roger™, on speech recognition at different levels of multisource noise in SSD CI recipients using MED-EL CI sound processor OPUS 2. Outcomes were assessed as a function of the listening condition (NH only, NH + CI, NH + CIRog, NHRog + CI, and NHRog + CIRog), Roger™ receiver type (Roger™ Focus for NH; Roger™ Xand Roger™ MyLink for CI) and accessory mixing ratio.

Study Sample Eleven adult, SSD participants aided with CI from MED-EL.

Data Collection and Analysis Speech recognition in noise was assessed in two no-Roger™ conditions, one Roger™ X condition, and two Roger™ MyLink conditions. For the Roger™ X and no-Roger™ conditions, speech recognition was tested at 60.3 dB(A) with the Oldenburg Sentence Test in classroom noise at levels of 55, 65, and 75 dB(A). For the two Roger™ MyLink conditions, speech recognition at 60.3 dB(A) was measured at a noise level of 75 dB(A). Roger™ X was assessed with an accessory mixing ratio of 1:1 (summation of unattenuated microphone and audio accessory input). For Roger™ MyLink, two accessory mixing ratios were investigated, MT (1:1, summation of unattenuated microphone and telecoil input) and T with maximum attenuation of microphone input.

Results Speech recognition at higher noise levels (65 and 75 dB(A)) improved significantly with Roger™ in both unilateral use conditions (NH + CIRog and NHRog + CI) as well as bilateral use condition (NHRog + CIRog). Both the bilateral application of Roger™ and the unilateral Roger™ application on the NH ear outperformed the Roger™ application on CI alone. There was no statistically significant effect of type of CI Roger™ receiver (Roger™ X or Roger™ MyLink) and the accessory mixing ratio (MT or T) on speech recognition.

Conclusions Speech recognition for distant speakers in multisource noise improved significantly with the application of Roger™ in SSD CI recipients. Both the unilateral Roger™ application on the NH ear or the CI as well as the bilateral Roger™ application can be recommended.

Keywords

cochlear implant - remote wireless microphone system - single-sided deafness - speech recognition in noise