Frequency-to-electrode allocation and speech perception with cochlear implants

Abstract

The hypothesis was investigated that selectively increasing the discrimination of low-frequency information (below 2600 Hz) by altering the frequency-to-electrode allocation would improve speech perception by cochlear implantees. Two experimental conditions were compared, both utilizing ten electrode positions selected based on maximal discrimination. A fixed frequency range (200-10 513 Hz) was allocated either relatively evenly across the ten electrodes, or so that nine of the ten positions were allocated to the frequencies up to 2600 Hz. Two additional conditions utilizing all available electrode positions (15-18 electrodes) were assessed: one with each subject's usual frequency-to-electro..