Reduced visual discrimination in cochlear implant users

The aim of the study was to investigate low-level visual function in cochlear implant users. Spatial frequency discrimination was assessed in 16 adults with normal hearing and 18 adults with profound deafness who had a cochlear implant. Thresholds were measured with sinusoidal gratings using a two-a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inNeuroreport Vol. 23; no. 6; p. 385
Main Authors Turgeon, Christine, Champoux, François, Lepore, Franco, Ellemberg, Dave
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England 18.04.2012
Subjects
Adult
Cochlear Implants
Deafness
Discrimination (Psychology) - physiology
Female
Hearing - physiology
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Visual Perception - physiology
Young Adult
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Summary:The aim of the study was to investigate low-level visual function in cochlear implant users. Spatial frequency discrimination was assessed in 16 adults with normal hearing and 18 adults with profound deafness who had a cochlear implant. Thresholds were measured with sinusoidal gratings using a two-alternative temporal forced-choice procedure combined with an adaptive staircase. Cochlear implant users had significantly poorer spatial frequency discrimination compared with normal hearing participants. Therefore, auditory privation leads to substantial changes in this particular visual function and these changes remain even after the restoration of hearing with a cochlear implant.
ISSN:1473-558X
DOI:10.1097/WNR.0b013e3283525af4