MED-EL Claims Superior Performance in Noise

Editor: Here in the US the primary cochlear implant suppliers are Advanced Bionics and Nucleus. MED-EL, which is a significant supplier in Europe, is just beginning to become more widespread in the US. They may make even greater inroads if additional research confirms the results of this study!

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August 2008

MED-EL cochlear implant systems performed outstandingly in real life
situations according to the results of a study conducted by the Hörzentrum
Hannover, MHH - Medical School Hannover

Clinical Study

"Influence of the Front End Processing on Speech Perception with Cochlear Implants of Various Manufacturers"; Haumann et al., 8th International Conference of the European Society of Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology, Budapest, 8-11 June 2008

Study Overview

The study evaluated everyday listening situations with different levels of background noise. All major cochlear implant systems were represented. Subjects listened to sentences with varying levels of noise. Conditions were similar to those in everyday listening situations.

Subjects and Devices

Five types of speech processors
Eleven subjects in each device group

Method: HSM sentences presented at roving level with speech-shaped noise

Study Results Demonstrate Unsurpassed Performance

- Outstanding hearing results specifically in challenging listening situations for MED-EL users
- Only MED-EL users could still understand 50% of speech, even when noise was presented at levels louder than speech
- Only MED-EL users continued to improve as the listening conditions became progressively more challenging

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