Preliminary Findings for the Effects of Simulated Cochlear Implant Listening on Postural Control in Typical-Hearing Listeners

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Özdemir S., Batuk M., Dinçer D'alessandro H., Sennaroğlu G.

7th World Congress of Cochlear Implants in Emerging Nations, İstanbul, Turkey, 14 - 16 September 2023, pp.47, (Summary Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Summary Text
  • City: İstanbul
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.47
  • Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Introduction: When auditory input quality is degraded due to hearing loss or adverse acoustic environments, listeners need to exert more mental effort than usual in order to focus their attention on the target source. Although assistive devices can reduce listening effort in individuals with hearing loss, those who use such devices still require higher levels of concentration to understand speech, and experience greater fatigue as a result of this listening effort compared to individuals with normal hearing. Furthermore, an increased listening effort resulting from hearing loss may lead to poorer balance performance, especially in older adults. This study aimed to investigate the effects of listening efforts on postural control by typically hearing adults who are presented a CI- simulated speech both in quiet and noise.

Method: Twenty adults with typical hearing (aged between 20-26 ) participated in the study. Turkish Hearing In Noise Test (HINT) sentences were used as the speech material. The Modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction in Balance (mCTSIB) was used to evaluate static balance. Static balance test was performed by using Computerized Static Posturography. In the experimental design of the study, healthy typical hearing participants listened to non-simulated and CI-simulated sentences and repeated what they heard while the participants were performing the mCTSIB test on the force platform of static posturography.

Results: Data collection is ongoing and will be presented at the conference. The static balance performance of individuals will be compared in three situations: (1) mCTSIB without secondary task, (2) mCTSIB while listening to speech-in-noise, and (3) mCTSIB while listening to CIsimulated speech-in-noise.

Conclusion: It is expected that increased listening effort for CI-simulated speech-in-noise may result in poorer postural balance. A better understanding of such a difficulty may help us to evaluate postural balance from different perspectives and plan an appropriate vestibular rehabilitation program. Keywords: balance, cochlear implant, listening effort, mental effort, postural control