Sound localization in newly implanted CI users: first results of a long-term study

In cases of severe sensorineural hearing loss, the implantation of a cochlear implant (CI) can restore or significantly improve speech understanding [1]. In addition, there is evidence of improved directional hearing in the horizontal plane after CI implantation [2]. The motivation of this long-term study is to document directional hearing during postoperative rehabilitation, since measurement is often required in CI care, but there are hardly any data on the course over a longer period of time. The measurements are performed with the ERKI-system [3] over a period of one year (2 weeks, 2, 4, 8 and 12 months after initial fitting). Adult CI users who received bimodal, bilateral or unilateral CI-surgery will participate in the study. The horizontal range between±75° is tested with an angular resolution of 5° and 5 stimuli presentations per angle. The 300ms speech signal \ at 70 dB SPL will be used as stimulus. Since data collection is still ongoing, this paper presents two case studies in which a reduction in angular error is seen over the course. The data to date indicate some strong intra- and interindividual variation.