Supplemental Material for: Evaluation of a fine structure sound-coding strategy for acoustic perception in newly cochlear implant users

This prospective, randomized, cross-over, double-blind study included 19 participants between January 2017 and July 2018. Each participant was randomized to receive a map programmed with FS4 followed by a map programmed with HDCIS or vice versa. Tonal/vocal audiometry in quiet, music perception tests (Gabrielsson scale, interval test, melodic contour identification), and quality of life (HISQUI) assessments were conducted after 1 month of adaptation to each setting.</p><p dir="ltr">Results: FS4 significantly improved speech recognition in quiet (mean effect (ME) = 8.4%, 95% confidence interval (CI95%) = 3.5% to 13.2%, p = 0.004, standardized effect size (SES) = 1.06), Gabrielsson scale scores (ME = 4.8, CI95% = 0.4 to 9.1, p = 0.047, SES = 0.67), and interval perception (ME = 18 Hz, CI95% = 2.7 to 32.4 Hz, p = 0.024, SES=0.78).

No significant difference was found for melodic contour identification or HISQUI. A period effect was observed for speech recognition in quiet (p = 0.002), Gabrielsson scale (p = 0.005), interval test (p = 0.032), and HISQUI (p = 0.039). Eighty percent of the participants kept the FS4 setting after the study period.</p><p dir="ltr">Conclusion: FS4 was associated with improved music perception and speech recognition in quiet compared to HDCIS in newly implanted cochlear implant users, suggesting potential advantages of fine structure processing strategies.</p>