Optimizing frequency-to-electrode allocation in cochlear implants

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that speech perception of cochlear implant users could be improved by increasing the number of electrodes allocated to frequencies below 2.6 kHz, with correspondingly fewer electrodes allocated above this point. Eight users of the Nucleus CI22 implant participated and wore experimental maps in which the widths of the analysis filters were altered to provide either two or three extra low-frequency channels. Speech perception was tested following periods of take-home experience. Information transmission analysis of vowel and consonant confusions appear to support our hypothesis, showing that vowel first formant information was significantly better perceived wit..