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Minimal effects of visual memory training on auditory performance of adult cochlear implant users. Sandra I. Oba, MS; John J. Gavin III, BA; Qian-Jie Fu, PhD. Aim Use nonauditory training task to engage attention and improve memory of cochlear implant subjects. Relevance
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Minimal effects of visual memory training on auditory performance of adult cochlear implant users Sandra I. Oba, MS; John J. Gavin III, BA; Qian-Jie Fu, PhD
Aim • Use nonauditory training task to engage attention and improve memory of cochlear implant subjects. • Relevance • Auditory training significantly improves cochlear implant users’ speech and music perception. • However, it is unclear whether performance gains are due to improved auditory perception or to generally improved attention, memory, and/or cognitive processing.
Method • Assessed speech and music perception and auditory and visual memory in 10 cochlear implant users before, during, and after training with nonauditory visual digit span (VDS) task.
Results • VDS performance: • Significantly improved after VDS training. • Auditory outcome measures: • Most did not significantly improve. • However, small (but significant) improvements in vocal emotion recognition and melodic contour identification. • Posttraining gains much smaller with nonauditory VDS training than in previous auditory training studies with cochlear implant users.
Conclusion • Results suggest that: • Posttraining gains in previous studies were not solely attributable to improved attention or memory. • More likely due to improved auditory perception. • Cochlear implant users may require targeted auditory training to improve speech and music perception.