Despite improved technology, many cochlear implant (CI) recipients still struggle to understand speech in noise (SIN). Because the bottom-up acoustic signal generated by the implant is distorted relative to normal-hearing acoustic input, CI users rely more on top-down processing to decipher masked speech. To better predict outcomes for CI recipients, top-down auditory processing ability should be assessed. However, hearing impairment makes testing top-down auditory processing ability through auditory means difficult. The study aims to determine whether testing visual top-down processing can predict auditory top-down processing capability.
Participants will complete a proctored, 25-minute computer-based test battery of visual cognitive tests (Stroop Test, Trail-Making Tests), visual distorted-signal tests (Scrambled Letters, VisualSNR), and auditory threshold tests (QuickSIN, Hearing Test). To prevent the accumulation of mental fatigue, tests will be administered in a predetermined order designed to minimize it. Including time for explanations for each test and questions from the participant about the testing protocol, the total time the participant will spend on the study is approximately 45 minutes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
60
A battery of visual cognitive tests will be combined to identify a set of tests that can predict user performance in speech-in-noise and music perception.
Northwestern Univeristy
Chicago, Illinois, United States
SNR-loss (dB)
The Quick Sound-in-Noise (QuickSIN) test is a common method for assessing speech-in-noise perception. In this test, participants listen to sentences spoken by a female speaker in increasingly loud four-talker babble. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss for two QuickSIN tests will be averaged and recorded.
Time frame: baseline
Audiogram
Behavioral hearing threshold
Time frame: baseline
Stroop times
The Stroop Test assesses inhibition-concentration. This test consists of two sets of subtests. Each subtest requires reading 25 words from a table of colored words: the first subtest requires the participant to read the word, and the second requires the participant to name the color of the word. In the first set of subtests, the words will be colored corresponding to the meaning of the color word (i.e. 'Red' will be colored red). In the second set of subtests, the words will be colored in a different color than the meaning of the word (i.e.' Red' will be colored purple). The completion time of each subtest will be recorded.
Time frame: baseline
Trail times
The Trail-Making Test (TMT) assesses attention and processing speed. This test consists of subtests A and B. In part A, the participant must connect dots numbered 1-25 in numerical order. In part B, the participant must connect dots numbered 1-13 and dots labeled A-L in alternating order (i.e. 1-A-2-B). If the participant makes a mistake, they must correct the mistake before moving on. The completion time of each subtest will be recorded.
Time frame: baseline
Percent identified
The Scrambled Letters and VisualSNR tests were developed to assess the participant's ability to decipher garbled or distorted visual stimuli.
Time frame: baseline
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