1. ^*Neuroscience Program, Research Triangle Institute, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
2. ^†Division of Otolaryngology Hearing Disorders, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
3. ^‡Center for Speech and Hearing Disorders, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
4. ^§Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, Cochlear Implant Research Laboratory, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts 02114, and Department of Otology and Laryngology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA

Abstract

HIGH levels of speech recognition have been achieved with a new sound processing strategy for multielectrode cochlear implants. A cochlear implant system consists of one or more implanted elec-trodes for direct electrical activation of the auditory nerve, an external speech processor that transforms a microphone input into stimuli for each electrode, and a transcutaneous (rf-link) or per-cutaneous (direct) connection between the processor and the elec-trodes. We report here the comparison of the new strategy and a standard clinical processor. The standard compressed analogue (CA) processor^1,2 presented analogue waveforms simultaneously to all electrodes, whereas the new continuous interleaved sampling (CIS) strategy presented brief pulses to each electrode in a nonover-lapping sequence. Seven experienced implant users, selected for their excellent performance with the CA processor, participated as subjects. The new strategy produced large improvements in the scores of speech reception tests for all subjects. These results have important implications for the treatment of deafness and for minimal representations of speech at the auditory periphery.