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].