In Brief Objective: The objective of the present study is to improve the efficiency of the fitting procedure of cochlear implant processors by making use of measurements of the electrically evoked compound actio potential (ECAP) and live-voice speech. Design: In a randomised prospective cross-over design we compare speech performance of eighteen adult subjects when following the conventional fitting procedure to a procedure in which we use the profile of the ECAP threshold levels across the full electrode array measured intra-operatively. The overall level of the profile is shifted (by an equal amount of current units per electrode) until we find the threshold for live speech (new T levels) and the loudness comfort level (new C levels). Each fitting procedure is tested for 6 wk. Speech performance is measured in quiet and in noise every other week. Results: The results show little difference between the scores (Dutch CVC words) for the conventional fitting procedure and the ECAP based fitting, although the T and C levels may differ markedly. Conclusion: The new fitting procedure is much faster and easier in the initial phase. Further improvement of performance may be obtained in a later stage of the fitting procedure by changing some individual electrodes on the basis of subjective responses. Fitting a cochlear implant speech processor is a laborious task, which may be facilitated by making use of measurements of the electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) and live-voice speech. Speech perception was measured in eighteen subjects after fitting with two different procedures. The conventional fitting procedure was compared to a procedure in which the profile of the ECAP threshold levels was used. The overall level of the profile was shifted until the threshold for live-voice speech (new T levels) and the loudness comfort level (new C levels) were found. The results show little difference between the scores for the conventional fitting procedure and the ECAP-based fitting, although specifically the T and to a lesser extent the C levels may differ markedly. The new fitting procedure is much faster and easier in the initial phase. Further improvement of performance may be obtained in a later stage of the fitting procedure by adjustment of the T and C levels of individual electrodes.
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Willeboer et al. (2006) studied this question.
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