4.1 Speech Discrimination Scores in Quiet
This study showed that BCDs could significantly improve the SDS in quiet
from 32% (16.42%) to 78.86% (12.64%). This result was comparable to
that of the study by Monini [6], which also observed an improvement
in word recognition in the quiet from 98.8% to 100% for SSD listeners
aided with BC implants. However, in Monini’s study, SSD patients were
tested with the NH ear unplugged. Therefore, hearing from the normal ear
would help in the speech discrimination task, which was why their
average SDS was higher than that in our plugged listening situation.
Furthermore, two reasons may account for the discrepancy between the
aided SDS and SDS tested in the NH control group: (1) unfamiliarity with
the new BC hearing signals and (2) transcranial attenuation effect from
the skull [11].