• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
• /
• v.1998 no.11
• /
• pp.161-162
• /
• 1998

In this paper, a speech processor which is the most important part of the cochlear implant is developed, to recover auditory ability for the sensorineural disorders who have damaged for their inner ear. This system consists of the analog and digital signal processing part, of which functions is the pre-processing and the main processing, respectively. The main processing is peformed in DSP processor (TMS320C31-40) by using S/W. Because the program is used in this system, it is possible to cope with the individual status of the patients, very easily.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.495-502
• /
• 1999

We propose efficient speech signal processing algorithms and a system for cochlear implant in this paper. The outer and the middle car which perform amplifying, lowpass filtering and AGC, are modeled by an analog system, and the inner ear acting as a time-delayed multi filter and the transducer is implemented by the DSP circuit which enables real-time processing. Especially, the basilar membrane characteristic of the inner ear is modeled by a nonlinear filter bank, and then tonotopy and periodicity of the auditory system is satisfied by using a pitch-synchronous multi-spectra(PSMS) method. Moreover, most of the speech processing is performed by S/W so the system can be easily modified. And as our program is written in C-language, it can be easily transplanted to the system using other processors.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2019

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of revision cochlear implant (CI) surgery for better speech comprehension targeting patients with low satisfaction after first CI surgery. Subjects and Methods: Eight patients who could not upgrade speech processors because of an too early CI model and who wanted to change the whole system were included. After revision CI surgery, we compared speech comprehension before and after revision CI surgery. Categoies of Auditory Performance (CAP) score, vowel and consonant confusion test, Ling 6 sounds, word and sentence identification test were done. Results: The interval between surgeries ranged from eight years to 19 years. Same manufacturer's latest product was used for revision surgery in six cases of eight cases. Full insertion of electrode was possible in most of cases (seven of eight). CAP score (p-value=0.01), vowel confusion test (p-value=0.041), one syllable word identification test (p-value=0.026), two syllable identification test (p-value=0.028), sentence identification test (p-value=0.028) had significant improvement. Consonant confusion test (p-value=0.063), Ling 6 sound test (p-value=0.066) had improvement but it is not significant. Conclusions: Although there are some limitations of our study design, we could identify the effect of revision (upgrade) CI surgery indirectly. So we concluded that if patient complain low functional gain or low satisfaction after first CI surgery, revision (device upgrade) CI surgery is meaningful even if there is no device failure.

• Journal of Audiology & Otology
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2019

Background and Objectives: The present study aims to investigate whether the cochlear implant electrode array design affects the electrophysiological and psychophysical measures. Subjects and Methods: Eighty five ears were used as data in this retrospective study. They were divided into two groups by the electrode array design: lateral wall type (LW) and perimodiolar type (PM). The electrode site was divided into three regions (basal, medial, apical). The evoked compound action potential (ECAP) threshold, T level, C level, dynamic range (DR), and aided air conduction threshold were measured. Results: The ECAP threshold was lower for the PM than for the LW, and decreased as the electrode site was closer to the apical region. The T level was lower for the PM than for the LW, and was lower on the apical region than on the other regions. The C level on the basal region was lower for the PM than for the LW whereas the C level was lower on the apical region than on the other regions. The DRs on the apical region was greater for the PM than for the LW whereas the DR was narrower on the apical region than on the other regions. The aided air conduction threshold was not different for the electrode design and frequency. Conclusions: The current study would support the advantages of the PM over the LW in that the PM had the lower current level and greater DR, which could result in more localized neural stimulation and reduced power consumption.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.145-152
• /
• 2019

Background and Objectives: The present study aims to investigate whether the cochlear implant electrode array design affects the electrophysiological and psychophysical measures. Subjects and Methods: Eighty five ears were used as data in this retrospective study. They were divided into two groups by the electrode array design: lateral wall type (LW) and perimodiolar type (PM). The electrode site was divided into three regions (basal, medial, apical). The evoked compound action potential (ECAP) threshold, T level, C level, dynamic range (DR), and aided air conduction threshold were measured. Results: The ECAP threshold was lower for the PM than for the LW, and decreased as the electrode site was closer to the apical region. The T level was lower for the PM than for the LW, and was lower on the apical region than on the other regions. The C level on the basal region was lower for the PM than for the LW whereas the C level was lower on the apical region than on the other regions. The DRs on the apical region was greater for the PM than for the LW whereas the DR was narrower on the apical region than on the other regions. The aided air conduction threshold was not different for the electrode design and frequency. Conclusions: The current study would support the advantages of the PM over the LW in that the PM had the lower current level and greater DR, which could result in more localized neural stimulation and reduced power consumption.

• Korean Journal of Audiology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2019

Background and Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of revision cochlear implant (CI) surgery for better speech comprehension targeting patients with low satisfaction after first CI surgery. Subjects and Methods: Eight patients who could not upgrade speech processors because of an too early CI model and who wanted to change the whole system were included. After revision CI surgery, we compared speech comprehension before and after revision CI surgery. Categoies of Auditory Performance (CAP) score, vowel and consonant confusion test, Ling 6 sounds, word and sentence identification test were done. Results: The interval between surgeries ranged from eight years to 19 years. Same manufacturer's latest product was used for revision surgery in six cases of eight cases. Full insertion of electrode was possible in most of cases (seven of eight). CAP score (p-value=0.01), vowel confusion test (p-value=0.041), one syllable word identification test (p-value=0.026), two syllable identification test (p-value=0.028), sentence identification test (p-value=0.028) had significant improvement. Consonant confusion test (p-value=0.063), Ling 6 sound test (p-value=0.066) had improvement but it is not significant. Conclusions: Although there are some limitations of our study design, we could identify the effect of revision (upgrade) CI surgery indirectly. So we concluded that if patient complain low functional gain or low satisfaction after first CI surgery, revision (device upgrade) CI surgery is meaningful even if there is no device failure.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.205-211
• /
• 2007

A novel envelope extraction algorithm for speech processor of cochlear implants, called adaptation algorithm, was developed which is based on a adaptation effect of the inner hair cell(IHC)/auditory nerve(AN) synapse. We achieved acoustic simulation and hearing experiments with 12 normal hearing persons to compare this adaptation algorithm with existent standard envelope extraction method. The results shows that speech processing strategy using adaptation algorithm showed significant improvements in speech recognition rate under most channel/noise condition, compared to conventional strategy We verified that the proposed adaptation algorithm may yield better speech perception under considerable amount of noise, compared to the conventional speech processing strategy.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.181-187
• /
• 2003

This paper introduces a new zinc coated copper wire electrode with coiled cone shape which has low surface resistance and tolerance to the motion artifact for promontory stimulation electrically auditory brainstem responses (PSEABR). Auditory brainstem responses (ABR) can be used to predict hearing threshold level with a great deal of accuracy particularly for a young child who cannot cooperate mechanically and some hearing impaired who are exaggerating a hearing loss for economic compensation. While severe profound sensorineural hearing losses may not be implemented by auditory potentials, PSEABR is proven as a useful tool even for some sensorineural related hearing impaired. It was shown that PSEABR gives the electrical stimuli to promontory of the cochlear instead of giving acoustic stimuli. For this reason, PSEABR can be used as an alternative for cochlear implantation, and can also be used as an optimal device selection and neural information for MAP. It was found that the role of electrode is very important in PSEABR. Even though this cone-shaped electrode was applied in animal experiments, waveforms are well produced by PSEABR. Thus, it was concluded that cone-shaped electrode turned out to be a useful preoperative audiological evaluation tool in deciding time for cochlear implantation surgery.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2007

The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation between current intensity and amplitude of stimulus artifact on the cochlear implantee, and to find out basic information to check the device failure. Subjects were a prelingual child and 3 postlingual adults with more than severe hearing losses. The charge-balanced biphasic pulses were presented at stimulus rates of 11 pulses per second, each pulse width of $25{\mu}s$ with monopolar mode(MP1+2). Current intensities were delivered at 27.5, 33.7, 41.3, 50.5, 61.9, $75.8{\mu}A$. Stimulus artifacts were recorded by evoked potential system. This procedure was performed just before the initial stimulation, and then, the amplitude of stimulus artifacts were compared with each current intensity. The amplitude of stimulus artifacts was increased significantly according to the current intensity (p<0.01). The results suggest that the change of the amplitude of stimulus artifact can be used as a good cue to check the device failure in the cochlear implantee.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.117-123
• /
• 2011

Most individuals with hearing impairment have difficulty in understanding speech in noisy situations. This study was conducted to investigate sentence recognition ability using the Korean Standard-Sentence Lists for Preschoolers (KS-SL-P2) in pre-school age children with cochlear implants and hearing aids. The subjects of this study were 10 pre-school age children with hearing aids, 12 pre-school age children with cochlear implants, and 10 pre-school age children with normal hearing. Three kinds of signal-to-noise (SNR) conditions (+10 dB, +5 dB, 0 dB) were applied. The results for all pre-school age children with cochlear implants and hearing aids presented a significant increase in the score for sentence recognition as SNR increased. The sentence recognition score in speech noise were obtained with the SNR +10 dB. Significant differences existed between groups in terms of their sentence recognition ability, with the cochlear implant group performing better than the hearing aid group. These findings suggest the presence of a sentence recognition test using speech noise is useful for evaluating pre-school age children's listening skill.