Speech of cochlear implant patients: An acoustic analysis of sibilant production

The aim of this study was to analyse sibilant production of cochlear implant (CI) patients, comparing them with normal hearing speakers (NH). Because of the inhomogeneity of cochlear implant patients, in this study they were divided into four groups, depending on whether they are prelingually or postlingually deaf speakers and the period of time between the deafening and the implantation of a cochlear implant. Each group was compared with an ageand gender-matched control group consisting of normal hearing speakers. Measurements were made of the first spectral moment of /s/ and /ʃ/. The results showed significantly lower values for /s/ for all four CI groups compared to their associated control groups. /ʃ/ values were also lower for the CI speakers than for the hearing controls, but only significant for postlingually deaf speakers. The results are interpreted in terms of technical limitations of cochlear implants in higher frequency ranges and a possible adaptive strategy.