User customization and user optimization of cochlear implant devices

描述（由申请人提供）：目前对人工耳蜗（CI）用户采用的试听方法是“一劳适得”的，因为它假设临床的初始试听应该在所有听力环境中都能很好地工作。语音编码算法和相关参数（如压缩函数）是固定的，患者或临床医生都没有针对不同的听力情况（如安静、音乐、噪音）以任何方式进行优化。本研究通过使用便携式研究语音处理器解决了这一主要限制，该处理器允许用户：(a)根据两种不同的结果测量（主观质量评级和辅音可理解性）改变MAP参数；(b)根据不同的收听情况定制MAP以获得最大效益；(c)收集反馈并允许记录真实的声学信号以进行进一步分析。在这项研究中，单侧、双侧和双峰用户将参与双盲现场试验，以评估语音处理器的真正好处，用户可以根据主观质量评级或语音清晰度指标轻松定制语音处理器，以满足他们的需求。这个项目的首要假设是，当人工耳蜗设备（由用户）根据不同的听力情况进行定制时，在主观质量和可理解性方面都可以获得最大的收益。实地研究的结果将告诉我们CI用户在现实环境中遇到的困难，以及针对不同环境定制语音编码算法的价值和额外好处，所有这些都基于CI用户的反馈。使用现有的商业处理器无法收集到这样的反馈和用户交互，但这是推动该领域向前发展的迫切需要。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The current fitting approach adopted for cochlear implant (CI) users falls along the lines of "one-size-fits-all", in that it is assumed that the initial fitting in the clinic should work equally well in all listening environments. Speech coding algorithms and associated parameters (e.g., compression function) are fixed and are not optimized in any way by either the patient or clinician for different listening situations (e.g., quiet, music, noise). The present study addresses this major limitation with the use of a portable research speech processor that allows users to: (a) change MAP parameters based on two different outcome measures (subjective quality ratings and consonant intelligibility) (b) customize the MAP to different listening situations for maximum benefit, and (c) collect feedback and allow the recording of real acoustic signals for further analysis. In this study, unilateral, bilateral and bimodal users will participate in double-blind field trials to assess the true benefit of a speech processor that can be easily customized by the users to fit their needs based on subjective quality ratings or speech intelligibility measures. The overarching hypothesis of this project is that maximum benefit, both in terms of subjective quality and intelligibility, can be obtained when the cochlear implant devices are customized (by the users) to the various listening situations. The outcomes of the field studies will tell us about the difficulties experienced by CI users in real-world situations as well as the value and additional benefit of customizing speech coding algorithms to different environments, all based on feedback from CI users. Such feedback and user interaction can not be gathered using existing commercial processors, yet it is critically needed to move the field forward. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The outcomes of this work can greatly benefit the overall quality of life for a large number of cochlear implant users. Cochlear implant users who are able to communicate effectively in noisy environments have greater opportunity for integration into mainstream education, increase their productivity at home or work and contribute more in the nation's economic growth and competitiveness.