Bottom-Up Signal Quality Impacts the Role of Top-Down Cognitive-Linguistic Processing During Speech Recognition by Adults with Cochlear Implants

Aaron C. Moberly; Jessica H. Lewis; Kara J. Vasil; Christin Ray; Terrin N. Tamati

doi:10.1097/MAO.0000000000003377

Bottom-Up Signal Quality Impacts the Role of Top-Down Cognitive-Linguistic Processing During Speech Recognition by Adults with Cochlear Implants

Aaron C. Moberly^*, Jessica H. Lewis, Kara J. Vasil, Christin Ray, Terrin N. Tamati

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

16 Citations (Scopus)

225 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

HYPOTHESES: Significant variability persists in speech recognition outcomes in adults with cochlear implants (CIs). Sensory ("bottom-up") and cognitive-linguistic ("top-down") processes help explain this variability. However, the interactions of these bottom-up and top-down factors remain unclear. One hypothesis was tested: top-down processes would contribute differentially to speech recognition, depending on the fidelity of bottom-up input.

BACKGROUND: Bottom-up spectro-temporal processing, assessed using a Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT), is associated with CI speech recognition outcomes. Similarly, top-down cognitive-linguistic skills relate to outcomes, including working memory capacity, inhibition-concentration, speed of lexical access, and nonverbal reasoning.

METHODS: Fifty-one adult CI users were tested for word and sentence recognition, along with performance on the SMRT and a battery of cognitive-linguistic tests. The group was divided into "low-," "intermediate-," and "high-SMRT" groups, based on SMRT scores. Separate correlation analyses were performed for each subgroup between a composite score of cognitive-linguistic processing and speech recognition.

RESULTS: Associations of top-down composite scores with speech recognition were not significant for the low-SMRT group. In contrast, these associations were significant and of medium effect size (Spearman's rho = 0.44-0.46) for two sentence types for the intermediate-SMRT group. For the high-SMRT group, top-down scores were associated with both word and sentence recognition, with medium to large effect sizes (Spearman's rho = 0.45-0.58).

CONCLUSIONS: Top-down processes contribute differentially to speech recognition in CI users based on the quality of bottom-up input. Findings have clinical implications for individualized treatment approaches relying on bottom-up device programming or top-down rehabilitation approaches.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	S33-S41
Number of pages	9
Journal	Otology & Neurotology
Volume	42
Issue number	10S
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/MAO.0000000000003377
Publication status	Published - Dec-2021

Access to Document

10.1097/MAO.0000000000003377

Bottom-Up Signal Quality Impacts the Role of Top-Down Cognitive-Linguistic Processing During Speech Recognition by Adults with Cochlear ImplantsFinal publisher's version, 300 KBLicence: Taverne

Handle.net

Persistent link

Cite this

@article{7af4121ee1954cbba5b18bc1f37c5542,

title = "Bottom-Up Signal Quality Impacts the Role of Top-Down Cognitive-Linguistic Processing During Speech Recognition by Adults with Cochlear Implants",

abstract = "HYPOTHESES: Significant variability persists in speech recognition outcomes in adults with cochlear implants (CIs). Sensory ({"}bottom-up{"}) and cognitive-linguistic ({"}top-down{"}) processes help explain this variability. However, the interactions of these bottom-up and top-down factors remain unclear. One hypothesis was tested: top-down processes would contribute differentially to speech recognition, depending on the fidelity of bottom-up input.BACKGROUND: Bottom-up spectro-temporal processing, assessed using a Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT), is associated with CI speech recognition outcomes. Similarly, top-down cognitive-linguistic skills relate to outcomes, including working memory capacity, inhibition-concentration, speed of lexical access, and nonverbal reasoning.METHODS: Fifty-one adult CI users were tested for word and sentence recognition, along with performance on the SMRT and a battery of cognitive-linguistic tests. The group was divided into {"}low-,{"} {"}intermediate-,{"} and {"}high-SMRT{"} groups, based on SMRT scores. Separate correlation analyses were performed for each subgroup between a composite score of cognitive-linguistic processing and speech recognition.RESULTS: Associations of top-down composite scores with speech recognition were not significant for the low-SMRT group. In contrast, these associations were significant and of medium effect size (Spearman's rho = 0.44-0.46) for two sentence types for the intermediate-SMRT group. For the high-SMRT group, top-down scores were associated with both word and sentence recognition, with medium to large effect sizes (Spearman's rho = 0.45-0.58).CONCLUSIONS: Top-down processes contribute differentially to speech recognition in CI users based on the quality of bottom-up input. Findings have clinical implications for individualized treatment approaches relying on bottom-up device programming or top-down rehabilitation approaches.",

author = "Moberly, {Aaron C.} and Lewis, {Jessica H.} and Vasil, {Kara J.} and Christin Ray and Tamati, {Terrin N.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: Copyright {\textcopyright} 2021, Otology & Neurotology, Inc.",

year = "2021",

month = dec,

doi = "10.1097/MAO.0000000000003377",

language = "English",

volume = "42",

pages = "S33--S41",

journal = "Otology & Neurotology",

issn = "1531-7129",

publisher = "LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS",

number = "10S",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Bottom-Up Signal Quality Impacts the Role of Top-Down Cognitive-Linguistic Processing During Speech Recognition by Adults with Cochlear Implants

AU - Moberly, Aaron C.

AU - Lewis, Jessica H.

AU - Vasil, Kara J.

AU - Ray, Christin

AU - Tamati, Terrin N.

PY - 2021/12

Y1 - 2021/12

N2 - HYPOTHESES: Significant variability persists in speech recognition outcomes in adults with cochlear implants (CIs). Sensory ("bottom-up") and cognitive-linguistic ("top-down") processes help explain this variability. However, the interactions of these bottom-up and top-down factors remain unclear. One hypothesis was tested: top-down processes would contribute differentially to speech recognition, depending on the fidelity of bottom-up input.BACKGROUND: Bottom-up spectro-temporal processing, assessed using a Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT), is associated with CI speech recognition outcomes. Similarly, top-down cognitive-linguistic skills relate to outcomes, including working memory capacity, inhibition-concentration, speed of lexical access, and nonverbal reasoning.METHODS: Fifty-one adult CI users were tested for word and sentence recognition, along with performance on the SMRT and a battery of cognitive-linguistic tests. The group was divided into "low-," "intermediate-," and "high-SMRT" groups, based on SMRT scores. Separate correlation analyses were performed for each subgroup between a composite score of cognitive-linguistic processing and speech recognition.RESULTS: Associations of top-down composite scores with speech recognition were not significant for the low-SMRT group. In contrast, these associations were significant and of medium effect size (Spearman's rho = 0.44-0.46) for two sentence types for the intermediate-SMRT group. For the high-SMRT group, top-down scores were associated with both word and sentence recognition, with medium to large effect sizes (Spearman's rho = 0.45-0.58).CONCLUSIONS: Top-down processes contribute differentially to speech recognition in CI users based on the quality of bottom-up input. Findings have clinical implications for individualized treatment approaches relying on bottom-up device programming or top-down rehabilitation approaches.

AB - HYPOTHESES: Significant variability persists in speech recognition outcomes in adults with cochlear implants (CIs). Sensory ("bottom-up") and cognitive-linguistic ("top-down") processes help explain this variability. However, the interactions of these bottom-up and top-down factors remain unclear. One hypothesis was tested: top-down processes would contribute differentially to speech recognition, depending on the fidelity of bottom-up input.BACKGROUND: Bottom-up spectro-temporal processing, assessed using a Spectral-Temporally Modulated Ripple Test (SMRT), is associated with CI speech recognition outcomes. Similarly, top-down cognitive-linguistic skills relate to outcomes, including working memory capacity, inhibition-concentration, speed of lexical access, and nonverbal reasoning.METHODS: Fifty-one adult CI users were tested for word and sentence recognition, along with performance on the SMRT and a battery of cognitive-linguistic tests. The group was divided into "low-," "intermediate-," and "high-SMRT" groups, based on SMRT scores. Separate correlation analyses were performed for each subgroup between a composite score of cognitive-linguistic processing and speech recognition.RESULTS: Associations of top-down composite scores with speech recognition were not significant for the low-SMRT group. In contrast, these associations were significant and of medium effect size (Spearman's rho = 0.44-0.46) for two sentence types for the intermediate-SMRT group. For the high-SMRT group, top-down scores were associated with both word and sentence recognition, with medium to large effect sizes (Spearman's rho = 0.45-0.58).CONCLUSIONS: Top-down processes contribute differentially to speech recognition in CI users based on the quality of bottom-up input. Findings have clinical implications for individualized treatment approaches relying on bottom-up device programming or top-down rehabilitation approaches.

U2 - 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003377

DO - 10.1097/MAO.0000000000003377

M3 - Article

C2 - 34766942

AN - SCOPUS:85121958433

SN - 1531-7129

VL - 42

SP - S33-S41

JO - Otology & Neurotology

JF - Otology & Neurotology

IS - 10S

ER -

Bottom-Up Signal Quality Impacts the Role of Top-Down Cognitive-Linguistic Processing During Speech Recognition by Adults with Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Access to Document

Handle.net

Fingerprint

Cite this