The cochlear implant provides good auditory performance despite high inter-individual variability, but performance in noise remains limited. Modification of the coding strategies could improve these performances. A better characterization of the remaining neuronal population by looking for the charge integration efficiency (which depends on the duration and the amplitude of the electrical pulse) would allow an optimization of the settings by adapting either the duration or the amplitude of the pulse according to the quality of the remaining neuronal population.
The cochlear implant provides good auditory performance despite high inter-individual variability, but performance in noise remains limited. Modification of the coding strategies could improve these performances. Currently, the intensity perceived by the patient is coded by the duration and the amplitude of the electrical impulse but companies have different approaches and fix one of the two parameters for the setting of the processors. A better characterization of the remaining neuronal population by looking for the charge integration efficiency (which depends on the duration and the amplitude of the electrical pulse) would allow an optimization of the settings by adapting either the duration or the amplitude of the pulse according to the quality of the remaining neuronal population.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
The pulse amplitude and/or the pulse phase duration will be optimize to improve the intensity resolution of the cochlear implant which may benefit speech perception
Calculate the charge integration efficiency along the electrodes
Charge integration efficiency will be determined for each electrode by noting the minimum and maximum loudness perceived by the patient as function of pulse phase duration and amplitude
Time frame: 4 hours
Questionnaire between Intensity discrimination and charge integration efficiency
3 electrodes that span the range of charge integration efficiency values will be selected as test electrodes. Three intensities will be presented to the patient through the implant and it will be asked to the patient to determine which intensity is higher than the others.
Time frame: 4 hours
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