Validating a Quick Spectral Modulation Detection Task

Abstract

Objectives: The Quick Spectral Modulation Detection (QSMD) test provides a quick and clinically implementable spectral resolution estimate for cochlear implant (CI) users. However, the original QSMD software (QSMD(MySound)) has technical and usability limitations that prevent widespread distribution and implementation. In this article, we introduce a new software package EasyQSMD, which is freely available software with the goal of both simplifying and standardizing spectral resolution measurements. Design: QSMD was measured for 20 CI users using both software packages. Results: No differences between the two software packages were detected, and based on the 95% confidence interval of the difference between tests, the difference between the tests is expected to be <2% points. The average test duration was under 4 minutes. Conclusions: EasyQSMD is considered functionally equivalent to QSMD(MySound) providing a clinically feasible and quick estimate of spectral resolution for CI users.

Investigation of hearing aid users' speech understanding in noise and their spectral-temporal resolution skills

“…Spectral resolution measures have been displayed to be mightily associated with open-ended speech recognition in postlingual deaf adult cochlear implant clients ( Horn et al., 2017 ). Performance on the SMRT was noted to be extremely associated with speech comprehension for cochlear implant clients tested ( Landsberger et al., 2019 ). In our study, statistically significant correlations were obtained between the SMRT score and composite RGDT threshold as a result of the tests carried out on individuals with hearing aids.…”

Spectrotemporal Modulation Sensitivity in Cochlear-Implant and Normal-Hearing Listeners: Is the Performance Driven by Temporal or Spectral Modulation Sensitivity?

“…In some of these tests, the upper limit of spectral resolution is measured for CI subjects, where the number of spectral ripples per octave (RPO; ripple density) increases until subjects can no longer discriminate stimuli of different ripple densities or stimuli of inverted ripple phases (e.g., Won et al., 2007 ). Alternatively, the ripple density is fixed, and the minimum modulation depth required to detect the spectral ripple from an unmodulated reference is measured (e.g., Gifford et al., 2018 ; Landsberger et al., 2019 ). The measures of ripple discrimination and detection have been shown to correlate with each other in CI listeners ( Anderson et al., 2012 ).…”