Optimization of sound source localization accuracy in bimodal listeners
Stefan Zirn, Julian Angermeier, Werner Hemmert · Laryngo-Rhino-Otologie · 2020
In bimodal cochlear implant (CI) / hearing aid (HA) users a constant interaural time delay in the order of several milliseconds occurs due to differences in signal processing of the devices. For MED-EL CI systems in combination with different HA types, we have quantified the respective device delay mismatch (Zirn et al. 2015). In the current study, we investigate the effect of the device delay mismatch in simulated and actual bimodal listeners on sound localization accuracy. To deal with the device delay mismatch in actual bimodal listeners we delayed the CI stimulation according to the measured HA processing delay. After this acclimatization period a highly significant decrease of the rms error in the localization task was observed (mean improvement: 11%; p<.01, Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test) compared to the test without the delay system. Thus, the implementation of a programmable delay system in CI processors seems to be a promising way how to improve localization accuracy in bimodal listeners. Kooperation mit Uniklinik Freiburg (Prof. Arndt, Dr. Wesarg) und Uniklinik Heidelberg (Prof. Praetorius, Prof. Hoth)) Poster-PDF A-1363.PDF Publication History Article published online: 10 June 2020 © 2020. The Author(s). This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial-License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York