Speech recognition, speech production and speech intelligibility in children with hearing aids versus implanted children

Cochlear implant (CI) systems are used by hearing-impaired persons who are unable to distinguish speech sounds with the help of hearing aids. The technology for manufacturing these two systems progresses very rapidly every year. Experience with cochlear systems exist in our clinic since 1989. Periodic appraisal of the performance of cochlear implant systems and hearing aids is required in order to provide the criteria for a cochlear implant candidacy. The aim of our study was to evaluate the degree of hearing loss appropriate for cochlear implant candidacy by comparing the speech recognition abilities of persons who used hearing aids or nucleus 22-channel cochlear implant system with the spectra speech processor. A further purpose was to study the influence of age at implantation on the auditory speech perception, speech production and speech intelligibility of CI-children. 2. Methods