Suitability of Auditory Speech Sound Evaluation (A§E®) in German cochlear implant patients

Abstract

A§E® is an audiological evaluation tool based on speech sounds as stimuli and was developed by The Eargroup, Antwerp. It consists of three levels: detection, discrimination and identification of phonemes and is a sufficient tool to measure supraliminal auditory capacities in Flemish language of children 10 months and older as well as adults. The aim of this study was to test the suitability of patients for cochlear implant in Germany, using 245 consecutive measurements (141 adults, 79 children, 25 controls) in a standard test protocol for phoneme detection and discrimination, Mainzer and Göttinger in children and Freiburger in adults pre-, 3 and 6 months and 1 year after implantation. Results in detection and discrimination regarding frequency spectrum and fitting parameters were evaluated using the following statistical methods: t test and correlation analysis. Detection improves first, followed by numbers, phoneme discrimination and monosyllables. Test results compared pre- to 3, 6 months and later, postoperatively, differ significantly (p < 0.05). A "ceiling-effect" is obtained between 6 months and 1 year (reproduction in A§E® >90%). Development of detection and discrimination correlates directly with results in numbers and monosyllables (r = 0.92). Non-German speaking patients cope better with A§E® than with numbers and monosyllables. Evaluation of phoneme discrimination enables better frequency specific fitting. Results indicated that A§E® is a valuable diagnostic supplement in fitting and therapy of cochlear implant patients regardless of cognitive level, age and language. Important information on frequency-resolving power of cochlear nerve after implantation is gained. Use of A§E® enables comparability and evaluation of study results in different countries.

Evaluation of hearing preservation in adults with a slim perimodiolar electrode

“…As expected, phoneme detection is feasible earlier than phoneme discrimination reflecting the results of the Freiburg speech recognition test. These observations of a better phoneme understanding following implantation are supported by Hey et al and our previous work [ 19 , 36 ]. HISQUI19 and Oldenburg Inventory showed low participation rates in the follow-up period and might be partly due to loss of follow-up but also reduced willingness or misunderstanding related to the forms.…”

“…The hearing aids were validated and optimized prior to cochlear implantation by an experienced hearing care professional. In general, A§E ® is a useful tool for frequency-dependent fitting in cochlear implant patients that is more independent from age, cognitive level and language skills than other speech tests (i.e., Freiburg speech test) [ 19 ]. Speech sounds were measured as phoneme discrimination and detection levels (ranging from 0 to 100%).…”

Speech Comprehension Difficulties in Chronic Tinnitus and Its Relation to Hyperacusis

“…The Goettingen sentence test was chosen as it reflects a realistic comprehension situation and has a high ecological validity (Kollmeier and Wesselkamp, 1997; Arweiler-Harbeck et al, 2011; May-Mederake and Shehata-Dieler, 2013). This test was performed in silence via air conduction by using headphones.…”

A Phoneme Perception Test Method for High-Frequency Hearing Aid Fitting

“…Govaerts et al (2006) introduced a test battery for all three tasks: detection, discrimination, and recognition, for cochlear implant testing in children. This test battery was adapted to German language and extended to adult cochlear implant patients (Arweiler-Harbeck et al, 2011). Within those test batteries, different stimuli were used for the different tasks, instead of evaluating detection, discrimination, and recognition for the same speech material.…”