Cochlear Implants : Influence of Microphone Aging and Dirtying

Consequences of Aging and Dirtying of Microphones on the Performances of Cochlear Implants. Influence of Signal Coding

Cochlear implant microphones are subject to aging and dirtying. The evolution may affect their efficiency. Several signal coding strategies are used in cochlear implants and their behaviour may be more or less affected by the aging process. In this work the investigators wish to assess this phenomenon.

Inclusion Criteria:

• French speaking persons (French native speakers; studies made in French)
• Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) tests and check up for normal hearing listeners were normal (Hearing loss below 20 dBs for all frequencies situated in the 250-8000 Hz range)
• Not mentally retarded

Exclusion Criteria:

• Persons with tinnitus or headache
• Anxious people (taking psychiatric drugs)
• Mental alteration or mental retard
• Deafened persons or taking an ENT treatment (normal hearing listeners)