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One way to improve speech understanding in noise for HI with a unilateral hearing loss is by contralateral routing of signals (CROS). Such a CROS-system captures sounds with an additional microphone at the worst hearing ear and transmits these to the better one. The better ear is then provided with a mix of signals originating from both ears. The goal of this study is to quantify the effect of a CROS-system on speech reception thresholds (SRTs) with unilaterally implanted CI-users in diffuse and directional noise as a function of speaker location. Listening tests are performed and an accurate directional intelligibly model is proposed used for further analysis. In diffuse noise it is concluded that the use of a CROS system results in a maximum gain in SRT of 7.9 dB when speech comes from the CROS side compared to a maximum loss in SRT of 2.1 dB when speech comes from the implanted side. In the case of directional noise, the effect of the CROS is symmetric and the maximum loss or gain in SRT was around 9 dB. The study therefore shows a clear potential of using the CROS system in diffuse noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS-1), patients may have manifestations of central involvement, including allodynia, hyperalgesia or dystonia. We noted that more severely affected patients may experience hyperacusis, which may also reflect central involvement. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence and characteristics of hyperacusis in patients with CRPS related dystonia. Methods: The presence of hyperacusis, speech reception thresholds (SRI), pure-tone thresholds (PU) and uncomfortable loudness (UCL) was evaluated in 40 patients with CRPS related dystonia. Results: PU and SRI were normal for all patients. 15 patients (38%) reported hyperocusis and this was associated with allodynia/hyperalgesia and with more affected extremities. UCLs of patients with hyperacusis were significantly lower than UCLs of patients without hyperacusis. Conclusion: Hyperacusis is common among severely affected patients with CRPS related dystonia and may indicate that the disease spreads beyond those circuits related to sensory-motor processing of extremities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]