(function(doc, html, url) {
var widget = doc.createElement("div");
widget.innerHTML = html;
var script = doc.currentScript; // e = a.currentScript;
if (!script) {
var scripts = doc.scripts;
for (var i = 0; i < scripts.length; ++i) {
script = scripts[i];
if (script.src && script.src.indexOf(url) != -1) break;
}
}
script.parentElement.replaceChild(widget, script);
}(document, '
Cochlear-implant users adjust to speaking rate better than people with typical hearing
What is it about?
People must adjust to many variations in speech to understand it, including the speaking rate of a person. If they don't, for example, words meant to start with a 'g' might sound like they start with a 'k'. However, speech is degraded with a cochlear implant and can be difficult to understand. Therefore, we tested if some of the difficulty with understanding speech with a cochlear implant was due to difficulty adjusting to someone's speaking rate. We found that cochlear-implant listeners not only adjusted, they did so more than people with normal hearing.
Why is it important?
Speech is degraded through a cochlear implant, but much of the timing information remains. To understand speech as well as possible, cochlear-implant users must maximize the information transmitted by it. The timing information conveyed by a cochlear implant may provide information that users learn to rely on more heavily. If some cochlear-implant users struggle with changes in speaking rate, it may be an area that clinicians can focus on helping people learn.