The Effects of Short-Term Computerized Speech-in-Noise Training on Postlingually Deafened Adult Cochlear Implant Recipients

PURPOSE: To determine if short-term computerized speech-in-noise training can produce significant improvements in speech-in-noise perception by cochlear implant (CI) recipients on standardized audiologic testing measures. METHOD: Five adult postlingually deafened CI recipients participated in 4 speech-in-noise training sessions using the Seeing and Hearing Speech program (Sensimetrics; Malden, MA). Each participant completed lessons concentrating on consonant and vowel recognition at word, phrase, and sentence levels. Speech-in-noise abilities were assessed using the QuickSIN (Killion, Niquette, Gudmundsen, Revit, & Banerjee, 2004) and the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT ( Nilsson, Soli & Sullivan, 1994)). RESULTS: All listeners significantly improved key word identification on the HINT after training, albeit only at the most favorable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Listeners also showed a significant reduction in the degree of SNR loss on the QuickSIN after training. CONCLUSION: Short-term speech-in-noise training may improve speech-in-noise perception in postlingually deafened adult CI recipients.