Individualized home-based phoneme training for adult cochlear implant users reduces phoneme confusion errors.

OBJECTIVE

This study presents a novel approach to reducing phoneme confusion errors among adult cochlear implant (CI) users through personalized phoneme training delivered via a mobile app.

METHODS

Twenty-one experienced adult CI users participated in a four-week at-home phoneme training program using the mobile app. Participants trained 20 minutes daily in 5-minute intervals, five days a week. Training materials were customized to address each participant's unique phoneme confusion errors, as identified by a phoneme recognition test in quiet.

RESULTS

On a group level, participants showed significant improvements in targeted phoneme errors. Individually, training effects varied, with both trained phonemes and some carry-over to word perception. Regardless of age, pre-training speech perception, or device specifics, most participants demonstrated a >10% improvement in phoneme confusion errors.

CONCLUSION

This individualized, bottom-up phoneme training approach holds promise for enhancing speech perception at the phoneme level in adult CI users. By addressing specific phoneme confusion errors through tailored training materials, home-based individualized rehabilitation may contribute to improved speech understanding and communication outcomes. This app-based, self-paced training method provides adult CI users with greater autonomy and empowerment within their home environments.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05307952.