by Michelle T. de los Santos
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Hello my beloved readers! :) My Psych 135 third exam just happened today and I remember the items in the exam about issues raised against cochlear implants in which I'm honestly unsure with my answers hence I decided to look an article about cochlear implants and write about it for my blog entry today! :) The title of the article that I found and i'll be discussing is "Effect of deep insertion of the cochlear implant electrode array on pitch estimation and speech perception" by Hamzavi & Arnoldner (2006).hhnjljnljnjlnl
As we all know, deaf people use cochlear implantation as a hearing aid. I read in the article that the cochlear implantation has become an inseparable part of otorhinolaryngology for the treatment of profound to severe hearing loss. With the help of it, cochlear implant patients are believed to have the ability to achieve a very high speech perception levels. Which I can say is a nice thing and happy news for everyone.
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The aim of Hamzavi and Arnoldner’s (2006) study was to evaluate the importance of insertion depth beyond 25 mm in a group of cochlear implant patients with deeply inserted electrodes up to 32 mm. This experiment seems an ominous one for me because we are talking about the depth of insertion of the cochlear implant to one’s cochlea; high caution and responsibility are needed and must be noted.
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Patients and Methods
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Patients and Methods
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jasnxlznsaolxnlaIn the initial part of the study, pitch estimation for channels across the whole length of the electrode array were asked to perform by the patients. The researchers evaluated whether pitch discrimination was possible along the whole cochlea and especially in its apical part. Next, the audiological performances of 10 patients were tested in five conditions, wherein the researchers artificially varied the insertion depth in each patient by activating and deactivating channels. The patients were tested immediately in the new condition to avoid adaptation (Hamzavi and Arnoldner’s, 2006).
Results of the study showed that activating the electrodes in the uppermost region of the cochlea improves speech perception significantly. Moreover, the pitch perceived in the cochlea with electrical stimulation decreases with increasing insertion depth along the whole length of deeply inserted electrode arrays could be demonstrated. Hence, deeply inserted electrodes offer the possibility that apical stimulation may improve speech performances. Consequently, it is believed that deep insertion is reasonable and should be performed in patients with profound or total hearing loss. The researchers gave the impression that it is independent of implant type as well as the mode of stimulation. Furthermore, the number of channels provided in the apical part of the cochlea seems to be important as a function of stimulation rate. Even so the study’s results show that not all patients benefited from the maximum number of activated channels and this number must therefore be determined for each patient individually (Hamzavi and Arnoldner’s, 2006).
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Hope this study provided you readers new information and helps you decide on something regarding cochlear implants and hearing loss. This was really an interesting study for me. Although of course, the study has its limitations, such as limited participants, and some risk factors. I cannot blame the researchers because I understand that this kind of experiment is a serious one and needs lot of precautions. If given a chance, its still better if future studies/researchers can include greater amount of participant and consider some necessary measures.
Results of the study showed that activating the electrodes in the uppermost region of the cochlea improves speech perception significantly. Moreover, the pitch perceived in the cochlea with electrical stimulation decreases with increasing insertion depth along the whole length of deeply inserted electrode arrays could be demonstrated. Hence, deeply inserted electrodes offer the possibility that apical stimulation may improve speech performances. Consequently, it is believed that deep insertion is reasonable and should be performed in patients with profound or total hearing loss. The researchers gave the impression that it is independent of implant type as well as the mode of stimulation. Furthermore, the number of channels provided in the apical part of the cochlea seems to be important as a function of stimulation rate. Even so the study’s results show that not all patients benefited from the maximum number of activated channels and this number must therefore be determined for each patient individually (Hamzavi and Arnoldner’s, 2006).iljpjpokopk
jnllmlkmklHope this study provided you readers new information and helps you decide on something regarding cochlear implants and hearing loss. This was really an interesting study for me. Although of course, the study has its limitations, such as limited participants, and some risk factors. I cannot blame the researchers because I understand that this kind of experiment is a serious one and needs lot of precautions. If given a chance, its still better if future studies/researchers can include greater amount of participant and consider some necessary measures.
P.S.
Look at the poor baby, what's with the smile right? I cannot take the pictureeeeeee!!! So sad! He/she is too young for that. :(Consider this image:
Hmmm... whatchathink??? Good or bad? Pro or anti?
Hmmmm...it depends...
Reference:
Hamzavi, J., & Arnoldner, C. (2006). Effect of deep insertion of the cochlear implant electrode array on pitch estimation and speech perception. Acta Oto-Laryngologica, 126(11), 1182-1187.
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