CI_Symposium_6

What can we expect of cochlear implants for listening to speech in noisy environments?

Dr Andrew Faulkner, Head of SHaPS, PaLS, UCL

Abstract

I will review our current understanding of the range of listening abilities that can be expected of children using cochlear implants with special to listening in noisy environments. Key factors that will be considered will be:

• the effects of background speech and other extraneous sounds with a unilateral cochlear implant and the extent to which bilateral cochlear implants or the use of a contralateral hearing aid can assist in noisy conditions.

• the role of pitch (speech melody) in understanding speech in noise and the range of abilities in hearing pitch seen in implanted children

• the role of lip-reading and other visual cues

Link to slides