Categorical loudness scaling in cochlear implant recipients

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated categorical loudness scaling in a large group of cochlear implant (CI) recipients. DESIGN: Categorical loudness was measured for individually determined sets of current amplitudes on apical, mid and basal electrodes of the Nucleus array. STUDY SAMPLE: Thirty adult subjects implanted with the Nucleus CI. RESULTS: Subjects were generally reliable in categorical loudness scaling. As expected, current levels eliciting the same loudness categories differed across subjects and electrodes in many cases. After scaling the electric levels to remove differences in dynamic ranges across subjects and electrodes, the across-subject loudness functions for the three elect..