A speech processor providing fricative and low-frequency periodicity information for single channel cochlear prosthesis

Single channel cochlear prostheses have been shown to be effective as aids to lipreading. Due to the small range of the pulse repetition rate available for electrical stimulation, these devices usually do not provide clues regarding certain fricative sounds characterized by high-frequency noise bursts. A speech processor for presenting the information corresponding to these noise bursts along with the low-frequency periodicity (voicing and intonation) information has been developed and tested on two patients. Results indicate that the high-frequency fricative noise burst information can be presented without any adverse effect on the reception of voicing and place information.