رضا صادقی

Investigating the relationship between temporal processing and speech perception in noise with reading skills in children with cochlear implants

Abstract

Introduction: Currently, cochlear implantation is the most effective approach for people with severe to profound hearing loss. Although cochlear implant users may function very well in quiet, speech recognition in background noise is still an important challenge for them. This problem leads to significant communication impacts on many real-life situations and can negatively affect language, cognitive and academic development. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between temporal processing abilities and speech recognition in noise with reading skills in children with cochlear implants.

Materials and methods: The current research is cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical. The study compreised ۳۳ children with cochlear implants (۱۳ males and ۲۰ females) with an average age of ۱۳۷.۷۳±۱۴.۳ months (with at least two years of experience using cochlear implants) and ۹ children with normal hearing (۶ males and ۳ females) with an average age of ۲۶ ۱۲۹/۴۴/۱۵ months. Three tests, CV in noise, BKB and   T were used to measure time processing and speech perception in noise; And the reading performance was checked with Nama test and the results were recorded.

Findings: The results show that the scores of children with cochlear implants in all tests of CV in noise, BKB and   T in implanted ear are better than non-implanted ear with hearing aids (pvalue<۰.۰۰۱). Comparing the data between the two groups of children with cochlear implants and children with normal hearing showed that in all three mentioned tests, there is a significant difference between the average scores of the groups of children with normal hearing and those with cochlear implants (pvalue<۰.۰۵). Finally, a correlation was found between ۳ tests of temporal processing and speech perception in noise and the reading performance of children with cochlear implants in Nama test, although this correlation was not significant in some subtests.

Conclusion: Children with cochlear implants have challenges in temporal processing and speech perception in noise, which can affect their reading ability.

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