Impact of noise on listening effort in cochlear implant users

Introduction Speech perception in noise is oftentimes more difficult for cochlear implant (CI) users than for those with normal hearing (NH). In the case of unilateral CI with normal hearing or only mild hearing loss in the opposite ear, speech perception is often described as good up to very good in everyday life, but increased dizziness is reported at the end of the school or work day. The aim of the study was therefore to investigate the listening effort of CI users in noise.

Material and methods: During the task of the OLSA test in noise, the subjective listening effort was recorded in parallel using a categorical scaling (ACALES). Listening effort was measured in a noise situation with spatial separation of speech and noise and also in a diffuse sound field. The results of cochlear implant users with normal hearing or mild hearing loss in the opposite ear were compared with a normal hearing control group.

Results At the signal-to-noise ratio of the speech reception threshold, the mean listening effort of the CI group without using the CI was 3-4 categorical units (KE) worse than that of the NH group (e.g. moderate vs. very effortful). The use of CI reduced listening effort by 1-2 KE. At positive signal-to-noise ratios, which are more common in everyday life, the hearing effort with CI was only a few KE worse than in the NH group.

Conclusion In the present study, CI users showed an increased hearing effort compared to the NH group. In all noise situations, listening effort could be reduced with CI even for normal hearing in the contralateral ear.

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Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020