Evaluation of Mandarin Chinese Speech Recognition in Adults with Cochlear Implants Using the Spectral Ripple Discrimination Test
Chuanfu Dai, Zeqi Zhao, Weidong Shen, Duo Zhang, Guanxiong Lei, Yuehua Qiao, Shiming Yang
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tsinghua Chang Gung Hospital, School of Clinical Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China (mainland)
Med Sci Monit 2018; 24: CLR3557-3563
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.907491
Available online: 2018-05-28
Published: 2018-05-28
BACKGROUND:
The aim of this study was to explore the value of the spectral ripple discrimination test in speech recognition evaluation among a deaf (post-lingual) Mandarin-speaking population in China following cochlear implantation.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
The study included 23 Mandarin-speaking adult subjects with normal hearing (normal-hearing group) and 17 deaf adults who were former Mandarin-speakers, with cochlear implants (cochlear implantation group). The normal-hearing subjects were divided into men (n=10) and women (n=13). The spectral ripple discrimination thresholds between the groups were compared. The correlation between spectral ripple discrimination thresholds and Mandarin speech recognition rates in the cochlear implantation group were studied.
RESULTS:
Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds did not correlate with age (r=–0.19; p=0.22), and there was no significant difference in spectral ripple discrimination thresholds between the male and female groups (p=0.654). Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds of deaf adults with cochlear implants were significantly correlated with monosyllabic recognition rates (r=0.84; p=0.000).
CONCLUSIONS:
In a Mandarin Chinese speaking population, spectral ripple discrimination thresholds of normal-hearing individuals were unaffected by both gender and age. Spectral ripple discrimination thresholds were correlated with Mandarin monosyllabic recognition rates of Mandarin-speaking in post-lingual deaf adults with cochlear implants. The spectral ripple discrimination test is a promising method for speech recognition evaluation in adults following cochlear implantation in China.
Keywords: Citrus, Cochlear Implants, Speech Recognition Software
