Vocal Emotional Detection in Cochlear Implant Users

The purpose of this study is to identify patterns and differences in voice emotion recognition within cochlear implant (CI) users when specific prosodic cues are manipulated. The target sample in this study is 25 cochlear implant users and a control group of 25 adults with normal hearing.

The recruitment is to occur within Gallaudet University by posting recruitment material in Gallaudet’s Daily Digest and contacting the Hearing Loss Association of American (HLAA). Before testing, participants will complete an online questionnaire regarding background information such as the

• age of implantation
• type of cochlear implant
• onset of hearing loss, etc.

In the lab, participants will listen to various sentences spoken by a male and female speaker that will portray four different emotions:

• happiness
• sadness
• anger
• neutral.

The sentences will be manipulated in pitch, duration, and intensity, and the listener chooses which emotion is conveyed from a closed set based on these prosodic cues. The time required for each participant should be about 1.5 Priority Five: hours. Results will portray which prosodic cue (pitch, duration, or intensity) is most important for detecting emotions in cochlear implant users and individuals with normal hearing.