Background: Cochlear implants (CI) are widely used to restore hearing in people with severe to profound hearing loss. However, optimizing CI performance, especially in difficult listening environments with background ...Background: Cochlear implants (CI) are widely used to restore hearing in people with severe to profound hearing loss. However, optimizing CI performance, especially in difficult listening environments with background noise, remains a major challenge. Understanding the influence of factors such as sound source position and electrode placement on CI stimulation patterns is critical to improving auditory perception. Methods: In this study, an analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of sound source position and electrode placement on CI stimulation patterns under noisy conditions. For this purpose, a special measurement setup with a CI speech processor-microphone test box was used to simulate realistic listening scenarios and measure CI performance. Results: The results show that the effectiveness of CI noise reduction systems is influenced by factors such as the position of the sound source and electrode placement. In particular, the beamforming ultra zoom mode showed significantly better noise reduction than the omnidirectional mode, especially under real listening conditions. Furthermore, differences in electrode responses indicate individual variability in the CI user experience, highlighting the importance of personalized fitting algorithms. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the importance of considering environmental factors and individual differences when optimizing CI performance. Future research efforts should focus on the development of personalized fitting algorithms and the exploration of innovative strategies, such as the integration of artificial intelligence, to improve CI functionality in different listening environments. This study contributes to our understanding of CI stimulation patterns and lays the foundation for improving auditory perception in CI users.展开更多
Objective:This study was conducted to determine whether there is a reliable method for measuring the thickness of the retroauricular skin before,during,and after cochlear implantation,which allows the assessment of th...Objective:This study was conducted to determine whether there is a reliable method for measuring the thickness of the retroauricular skin before,during,and after cochlear implantation,which allows the assessment of the optimal force of the external magnet of the cochlear implant(CI).Methods:The retroauricular skin thickness of 83 patients who received a CI was measured using three different methods.The thickness was measured on pre-and postoperative CT images,as well as intraoperatively.The magnet category chosen by the surgeon was recorded when the implant was switched on and during the first follow-up visit.Correlation analyses were performed on the different skin thickness measurements and between the skin thickness and magnet strength categories.Results:Only six patients required an exchange of the magnet until the follow-up.Although the median absolute thickness differed significantly between the three measures(p<0.0001),their thickness values showed highly significant correlations(Pearson’s r=0.457-0.585;p<0.01).In addition,magnet strength,was significantly correlated with the flap thickness determined pre-,post-,and during surgery.The lowest correlation with magnet strength was found in the intraoperative needle method.Conclusion:All three measurements methods provided a suitable base for determining the ideal magnetic force.However,of particular interest were the pre-and postoperative CT measurements.The first enabled the early assessment of the required magnetic strength and thus a timely postoperative supply,whereas the latter helped to estimate the need for magnetic strength reduction during follow-up care and the feasibility of an early swith-on.展开更多
文摘Background: Cochlear implants (CI) are widely used to restore hearing in people with severe to profound hearing loss. However, optimizing CI performance, especially in difficult listening environments with background noise, remains a major challenge. Understanding the influence of factors such as sound source position and electrode placement on CI stimulation patterns is critical to improving auditory perception. Methods: In this study, an analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of sound source position and electrode placement on CI stimulation patterns under noisy conditions. For this purpose, a special measurement setup with a CI speech processor-microphone test box was used to simulate realistic listening scenarios and measure CI performance. Results: The results show that the effectiveness of CI noise reduction systems is influenced by factors such as the position of the sound source and electrode placement. In particular, the beamforming ultra zoom mode showed significantly better noise reduction than the omnidirectional mode, especially under real listening conditions. Furthermore, differences in electrode responses indicate individual variability in the CI user experience, highlighting the importance of personalized fitting algorithms. Conclusions: The results demonstrate the importance of considering environmental factors and individual differences when optimizing CI performance. Future research efforts should focus on the development of personalized fitting algorithms and the exploration of innovative strategies, such as the integration of artificial intelligence, to improve CI functionality in different listening environments. This study contributes to our understanding of CI stimulation patterns and lays the foundation for improving auditory perception in CI users.
文摘Objective:This study was conducted to determine whether there is a reliable method for measuring the thickness of the retroauricular skin before,during,and after cochlear implantation,which allows the assessment of the optimal force of the external magnet of the cochlear implant(CI).Methods:The retroauricular skin thickness of 83 patients who received a CI was measured using three different methods.The thickness was measured on pre-and postoperative CT images,as well as intraoperatively.The magnet category chosen by the surgeon was recorded when the implant was switched on and during the first follow-up visit.Correlation analyses were performed on the different skin thickness measurements and between the skin thickness and magnet strength categories.Results:Only six patients required an exchange of the magnet until the follow-up.Although the median absolute thickness differed significantly between the three measures(p<0.0001),their thickness values showed highly significant correlations(Pearson’s r=0.457-0.585;p<0.01).In addition,magnet strength,was significantly correlated with the flap thickness determined pre-,post-,and during surgery.The lowest correlation with magnet strength was found in the intraoperative needle method.Conclusion:All three measurements methods provided a suitable base for determining the ideal magnetic force.However,of particular interest were the pre-and postoperative CT measurements.The first enabled the early assessment of the required magnetic strength and thus a timely postoperative supply,whereas the latter helped to estimate the need for magnetic strength reduction during follow-up care and the feasibility of an early swith-on.
