Contribution of Verbal Learning & Memory and Spectro-Temporal Discrimination to Speech Recognition in Cochlear Implant Users

Overview

Journal Laryngoscope

Specialty Otorhinolaryngology

Date 2022 May 14

PMID 35567421

Authors

Michael S Harris

Benjamin L Hamel

Kristin Wichert

Kristin Kozlowski

Sarah Mleziva

Christin Ray

David B Pisoni

William G Kronenberger

Aaron C Moberly

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: Existing cochlear implant (CI) outcomes research demonstrates a high degree of variability in device effectiveness among experienced CI users. Increasing evidence suggests that verbal learning and memory (VL&M) may have an influence on speech recognition with CIs. This study examined the relations in CI users between visual measures of VL&M and speech recognition in a series of models that also incorporated spectro-temporal discrimination. Predictions were that (1) speech recognition would be associated with VL&M abilities and (2) VL&M would contribute to speech recognition outcomes above and beyond spectro-temporal discrimination in multivariable models of speech recognition.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 30 adult postlingually deaf experienced CI users who completed a nonauditory visual version of the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (v-CVLT-II) to assess VL&M, and the Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT), an auditory measure of spectro-temporal processing. Participants also completed a battery of word and sentence recognition tasks.

Results: CI users showed significant correlations between some v-CVLT-II measures (short-delay free- and cued-recall, retroactive interference, and "subjective" organizational recall strategies) and speech recognition measures. Performance on the SMRT was correlated with all speech recognition measures. Hierarchical multivariable linear regression analyses showed that SMRT performance accounted for a significant degree of speech recognition outcome variance. Moreover, for all speech recognition measures, VL&M scores contributed independently in addition to SMRT.

Conclusion: Measures of spectro-temporal discrimination and VL&M were associated with speech recognition in CI users. After accounting for spectro-temporal discrimination, VL&M contributed independently to performance on measures of speech recognition for words and sentences produced by single and multiple talkers.

Level Of Evidence: 3 Laryngoscope, 133:661-669, 2023.

References

Holden L, Finley C, Firszt J, Holden T, Brenner C, Potts L . Factors affecting open-set word recognition in adults with cochlear implants. Ear Hear. 2013; 34(3):342-60. PMC: 3636188. DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0b013e3182741aa7. View

Rumeau C, Frere J, Montaut-Verient B, Lion A, Gauchard G, Parietti-Winkler C . Quality of life and audiologic performance through the ability to phone of cochlear implant users. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2014; 272(12):3685-92. DOI: 10.1007/s00405-014-3448-x. View

Jeon E, Turner C, Karsten S, Henry B, Gantz B . Cochlear implant users' spectral ripple resolution. J Acoust Soc Am. 2015; 138(4):2350-8. PMC: 4617737. DOI: 10.1121/1.4932020. View

Ronnberg J . Cognition in the hearing impaired and deaf as a bridge between signal and dialogue: a framework and a model. Int J Audiol. 2003; 42 Suppl 1:S68-76. DOI: 10.3109/14992020309074626. View

Resnick J, Horn D, Noble A, Rubinstein J . Spectral aliasing in an acoustic spectral ripple discrimination task. J Acoust Soc Am. 2020; 147(2):1054. PMC: 7112708. DOI: 10.1121/10.0000608. View

Anderson M, Bjork R, Bjork E . Remembering can cause forgetting: retrieval dynamics in long-term memory. J Exp Psychol Learn Mem Cogn. 1994; 20(5):1063-87. DOI: 10.1037//0278-7393.20.5.1063. View

Aronoff J, Landsberger D . The development of a modified spectral ripple test. J Acoust Soc Am. 2013; 134(2):EL217-22. PMC: 3732300. DOI: 10.1121/1.4813802. View

Zhan K, Lewis J, Vasil K, Tamati T, Harris M, Pisoni D . Cognitive Functions in Adults Receiving Cochlear Implants: Predictors of Speech Recognition and Changes After Implantation. Otol Neurotol. 2019; 41(3):e322-e329. DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000002544. View

HIRSH I, Davis H, Silverman S, REYNOLDS E, ELDERT E, BENSON R . Development of materials for speech audiometry. J Speech Hear Disord. 1952; 17(3):321-37. DOI: 10.1044/jshd.1703.321. View

10.

Gilbert J, Tamati T, Pisoni D . Development, reliability, and validity of PRESTO: a new high-variability sentence recognition test. J Am Acad Audiol. 2012; 24(1):26-36. PMC: 3683852. DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.24.1.4. View

11.

Herman R, Pisoni D . Perception of "Elliptical Speech" Following Cochlear Implantation: Use of Broad Phonetic Categories in Speech Perception. Volta Rev. 2011; 102(4):321-347. PMC: 3103267. View

12.

Kirby B, Spratford M, Klein K, McCreery R . Cognitive Abilities Contribute to Spectro-Temporal Discrimination in Children Who Are Hard of Hearing. Ear Hear. 2018; 40(3):645-650. PMC: 6383507. DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000000645. View

13.

Henry B, Turner C, Behrens A . Spectral peak resolution and speech recognition in quiet: normal hearing, hearing impaired, and cochlear implant listeners. J Acoust Soc Am. 2005; 118(2):1111-21. DOI: 10.1121/1.1944567. View

14.

Folstein M, Folstein S, McHugh P . "Mini-mental state". A practical method for grading the cognitive state of patients for the clinician. J Psychiatr Res. 1975; 12(3):189-98. DOI: 10.1016/0022-3956(75)90026-6. View

15.

Heydebrand G, Hale S, Potts L, Gotter B, Skinner M . Cognitive predictors of improvements in adults' spoken word recognition six months after cochlear implant activation. Audiol Neurootol. 2007; 12(4):254-64. DOI: 10.1159/000101473. View

16.

Sheft S, Cheng M, Shafiro V . Discrimination of Stochastic Frequency Modulation by Cochlear Implant Users. J Am Acad Audiol. 2015; 26(6):572-81. PMC: 4506775. DOI: 10.3766/jaaa.14067. View

17.

Lenarz M, Sonmez H, Joseph G, Buchner A, Lenarz T . Cochlear implant performance in geriatric patients. Laryngoscope. 2012; 122(6):1361-5. DOI: 10.1002/lary.23232. View

18.

Moberly A, Bates C, Harris M, Pisoni D . The Enigma of Poor Performance by Adults With Cochlear Implants. Otol Neurotol. 2016; 37(10):1522-1528. PMC: 5102802. DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001211. View

19.

Winn M, OBrien G . Distortion of Spectral Ripples Through Cochlear Implants Has Major Implications for Interpreting Performance Scores. Ear Hear. 2021; 43(3):764-772. PMC: 9010354. DOI: 10.1097/AUD.0000000000001162. View

20.

Moberly A, Vasil K, Baxter J, Ray C . What to Do When Cochlear Implant Users Plateau in Performance: a Pilot Study of Clinician-guided Aural Rehabilitation. Otol Neurotol. 2018; 39(9):e794-e802. PMC: 6132264. DOI: 10.1097/MAO.0000000000001964. View