Effect of efferent activation on binaural frequency selectivity.

Binaural notched-noise experiments indicate a reduced frequency selectivity of the binaural system compared to monaural processing. The present study investigates how auditory efferent activation (via the medial olivocochlear system) affects binaural frequency selectivity in normal-hearing listeners. Thresholds were measured for a 1-kHz signal embedded in a diotic notched-noise masker for various notch widths.

Bilateral and unilateral cochlear implant users compared on speech perception in noise.

Objective: Compare speech performance in noise with matched bilateral cochlear implant (CICI) and unilateral cochlear implant (CI only) users.

Design: Thirty CICI and 30 CI-only subjects were tested on a battery of speech perception tests in noise that use an eight-loudspeaker array.

Results: On average, CICI subject's performance with speech in noise was significantly better than the CI-only subjects.