There is a rapidly growing population of adult and pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients with acoustic hearing preservation in the implanted ear(s) allowing for combined Electric and binaural Acoustic Stimulation (EAS). Despite the rapid technological and surgical advancements that have led to this increased prevalence, there is limited research on EAS outcomes-particularly for pediatric EAS listeners-including the expected trajectory of benefit following EAS fitting and underlying mechanisms driving benefit in EAS users of all ages. Thus, the purpose of this project is to provide a comprehensive description of behavioral and electrophysiologic measures of binaural hearing in adults and children both with normal hearing and EAS users.
Pediatric EAS: aged 5-17; Adult EAS: aged 18+ years
At least one CI and bilateral mild to profound sensorineural hearing loss with unaided audiometric thresholds ≤ 80 dB HL at 125 and 250 Hz, in both ears.
Willingness to use EAS technology in the implanted ear(s) to be verified via data logging
Nonverbal cognitive abilities within the typical range
single-sided deafness (SSD)
Individuals with steeply sloping sensorineural hearing loss in both ears
Cohort
Prospective
binaural processing over time
BehavioralThis study will not provide an intervention, but will study the effects of hearing technology on binaural processing for adults and children with bilateral steeply sloping sensorineural hearing loss
binaural processing over time for children and adults with normal hearing
BehavioralAdults and children with normal hearing will be studied over time to characterize binaural processing and associated effects on speech perception in complex listening scenarios and spatial hearing abilities.
EAS benefit for speech recognition in noise and spatial hearing abilities
For children and adults who are pursuing cochlear implantation with acoustic hearing preservation, we will describe the rate of hearing preservation following implantation. This is critical as it is well-known that individuals with acoustic hearing preservation achieve significantly higher scores on tasks of speech recognition in noise, particularly with diffuse noise.
Binaural cue sensitivity (interaural time and level differences)
For children and adults with precipitously sloping, high-frequency sensorineural hearing loss pursuing cochlear implantation, we will describe binaural cue sensitivity pre- and post-implant.
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Hearts for Hearing
Lead sponsor
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborator
