Étude de l’efficacité d’un entraînement en groupe de la compréhension de la parole dans le bruit, auprès d’adultes appareillés et/ou implantés cochléaires.

Background. Although there are few studies on the subject, rehabilitation in noise is essential, as quiet exercises are no longer sufficient to meet the needs of patients with hearing aids and/or cochlear implants. Understanding speech in noise is an essential skill for everyday communication. It is the number-one complaint of deaf people with hearing aids and/or cochlear implants, as it impacts on their interactions and quality of life. Objective. To evaluate whether auditory training in noise improves speech comprehension in these difficult listening situations. Method. An experimental group of nine deaf adults with hearing aids and/or implants received six sessions of auditory training. A pre-test and a post-test assessed word perception in noise and within songs, spatial localization, dichotic listening skills and how the person felt in everyday noise. These same variables were measured in a group of seven hearing-impaired and/or implanted adults (deaf control group) who were not trained, and in ten normal-hearing adults (normal-hearing control group). Results. Statistical analyses showed no statistically significant effects of training on variables measured after auditory training, but all participants had higher post-test scores on at least two tasks and reported beneficial qualitative elements. Conclusion. These sessions enabled them to share their experience of deafness with other people facing the same difficulties, to gain self-confidence and to situate their level of speech comprehension in noise in relation to the tasks proposed and the results of the other participants.