Abstract:
Cochlear implants (CIs) can significantly improve hearing for people with severe-to-profound hearing losses, but they do not restore hearing in noise. Frequency-modulated (FM) systems, however, can help combat the interference of background noise. Three kinds of FM receivers can be used with a CI: (1) a classroom soundfield, (2) a desktop soundfield, or (3) a direct-audio input (DAI). There is no consensus, however, on which type of FM system provides the best performance. Speech-recognition data were extracted from eight studies for FM system conditions in noise: (1) CI only, (2) classroom soundfield, (3) desktop soundfield, and (4) DAI. A meta-analysis was performed to compare the improvements in speech recognition with the different receivers. The best performance was with the DAI system, followed by the desktop soundfield. The classroom soundfield provided little or no benefit. Thus, to provide optimal hearing in noise, DAI systems should be the first type of FM system considered for people with CIs.

Full Text Article

• Introduction
• Research Topic
• Literature Review
• Research Methodology
• Results
• Discussion and Clinical Implications
• Conclusion
• References
• Table 1: Description of Studies
• Table 2: Main Analysis
• Table 3: Post HocAnalysis
• Figure 1: Main Analysis Forrest Plot
• Figure 2: Effect of Age Forrest Plot
• Figure 3: Internal Processor Forrest Plot
• Figure 4: Background Noise Forrest Plot