Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study

Cochlear implant (CI) users with prelingual deafness (hearing impairment started before language development was completed) show variable speech-in-noise (SIN) understanding. The present study aimed to assess cortical activation patterns to speech-in-quiet (SIQ) and SIN in prelingual CI users and co...

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Main Authors: Michal Levin, Michal Balberg, Yael Zaltz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-11-01
Series:Applied Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/23/12063
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author Michal Levin
Michal Balberg
Yael Zaltz
author_facet Michal Levin
Michal Balberg
Yael Zaltz
author_sort Michal Levin
collection DOAJ
description Cochlear implant (CI) users with prelingual deafness (hearing impairment started before language development was completed) show variable speech-in-noise (SIN) understanding. The present study aimed to assess cortical activation patterns to speech-in-quiet (SIQ) and SIN in prelingual CI users and compared to individuals with normal hearing (NH), using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants included 15 NH who listened to natural speech, 15 NH who listened via 8-channel noise-excited vocoder, and 14 prelingual CI users. fNIRS data were collected in a block design that included three conditions: SIQ, SIN in a signal-to-noise ratio of 0 dB, and noise. Speech reception thresholds in noise (SRTn) were also assessed. Results revealed different patterns of activation between the NH and CI participants in channels covering mainly the right and left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), depending on the SRTn of the CI users. Specifically, while the NH group showed large response to SIQ and SIN in the MTG areas, prelingual CI users with poor SRTn showed significantly smaller response to SIQ, and inversed response (a reduction in activation) to SIN in the same brain areas. These novel findings support the notion that the MTG can serve as a neural marker for speech understanding in CI patients.
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spelling doaj.art-7a6782b6af7849d2916d549c1482ed8a2023-11-24T10:30:26ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172022-11-0112231206310.3390/app122312063Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS StudyMichal Levin0Michal Balberg1Yael Zaltz2Department of Communication Disorders, Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 39040, IsraelFaculty of Engineering, Holon Institute of Technology, Holon 305, IsraelDepartment of Communication Disorders, Steyer School of Health Professions, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 39040, IsraelCochlear implant (CI) users with prelingual deafness (hearing impairment started before language development was completed) show variable speech-in-noise (SIN) understanding. The present study aimed to assess cortical activation patterns to speech-in-quiet (SIQ) and SIN in prelingual CI users and compared to individuals with normal hearing (NH), using functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants included 15 NH who listened to natural speech, 15 NH who listened via 8-channel noise-excited vocoder, and 14 prelingual CI users. fNIRS data were collected in a block design that included three conditions: SIQ, SIN in a signal-to-noise ratio of 0 dB, and noise. Speech reception thresholds in noise (SRTn) were also assessed. Results revealed different patterns of activation between the NH and CI participants in channels covering mainly the right and left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), depending on the SRTn of the CI users. Specifically, while the NH group showed large response to SIQ and SIN in the MTG areas, prelingual CI users with poor SRTn showed significantly smaller response to SIQ, and inversed response (a reduction in activation) to SIN in the same brain areas. These novel findings support the notion that the MTG can serve as a neural marker for speech understanding in CI patients.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/23/12063cochlear implantprelingual deafnessfNIRScortical activationspeech perceptionspeech-in-noise
spellingShingle Michal Levin
Michal Balberg
Yael Zaltz
Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study
Applied Sciences
cochlear implant
prelingual deafness
fNIRS
cortical activation
speech perception
speech-in-noise
title Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study
title_full Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study
title_fullStr Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study
title_full_unstemmed Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study
title_short Cortical Activation in Response to Speech Differs between Prelingually Deafened Cochlear Implant Users with Good or Poor Speech-in-Noise Understanding: An fNIRS Study
title_sort cortical activation in response to speech differs between prelingually deafened cochlear implant users with good or poor speech in noise understanding an fnirs study
topic cochlear implant
prelingual deafness
fNIRS
cortical activation
speech perception
speech-in-noise
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/12/23/12063
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