There are a rapidly growing number of """"""""bimodal"""""""" patients, people who hear using a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other ear. These patients hear using two different forms of sound input: the cochlear implant delivers an electrical signal and the hearing aid delivers an acoustic signal. Current clinical practice usually entails the separate fitting of each device by a different audiologist, using methods that are normally employed for standalone devices. This paradigm is based more on historical circumstances than on evidence of its effectiveness. The goal of the proposed research is to develop data-based tools that will allow clinicians to maximize bimodal speech perception by better coordinating the fitting of the hearing aid and the cochlear implant, and the post-implantation follow-up.
Specific Aim 1 is to develop guidelines that will help clinicians select an appropriate hearing aid bandwidth for bimodal patients as a function of their residual hearing.
Specific Aim 2 is to develop a flowchart with recommendations concerning which frequency allocation table should be used in the cochlear implant of bimodal patients as a function of their residual hearing.
Specific Aim 3 is to develop guidelines for the post-implant follow up of bimodal patients, including recommendations for frequency of evaluation and conditions, tasks, and tests to be used. The set of clinical tools to be developed (lookup tables, flowcharts, and follow-up guidelines) will address a pressing clinical need and will allow clinicians to make data-driven decisions for the audiological management of bimodal patients.

Public Health Relevance

This research will provide guidance to clinicians who manage the fitting and follow-up care of bimodal patients, those who use a cochlear implant in one ear and a hearing aid in the other ear. We will develop tools to help select the hearing aid and cochlear implant fittings that will provide the best bimodal speech recognition for each individual. In addition, protocols for long-term follow-up of bimodal patients will be generated.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01DC011329-02S1
Application #
8512862
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZDC1-SRB-R (33))
Program Officer
Donahue, Amy
Project Start
2011-07-20
Project End
2016-06-30
Budget Start
2012-08-01
Budget End
2013-06-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2012
Total Cost
$42,165
Indirect Cost
$17,215
Name
New York University
Department
Otolaryngology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
121911077
City
New York
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
10016
Neuman, Arlene C; Zeman, Annette; Neukam, Jonathan et al. (2018) The Effect of Hearing Aid Bandwidth and Configuration of Hearing Loss on Bimodal Speech Recognition in Cochlear Implant Users. Ear Hear :
Tan, Chin-Tuan; Martin, Brett A; Svirsky, Mario A (2018) A potential neurophysiological correlate of electric-acoustic pitch matching in adult cochlear implant users: Pilot data. Cochlear Implants Int 19:198-209
Cohen, Samuel M; Svirsky, Mario A (2018) Duration of unilateral auditory deprivation is associated with reduced speech perception after cochlear implantation: A single-sided deafness study. Cochlear Implants Int :1-6
Tan, Chin-Tuan; Martin, Brett; Svirsky, Mario A (2017) Pitch Matching between Electrical Stimulation of a Cochlear Implant and Acoustic Stimuli Presented to a Contralateral Ear with Residual Hearing. J Am Acad Audiol 28:187-199
Jethanamest, Daniel; Azadpour, Mahan; Zeman, Annette M et al. (2017) A Smartphone Application for Customized Frequency Table Selection in Cochlear Implants. Otol Neurotol 38:e253-e261
Neuman, Arlene C; Waltzman, Susan B; Shapiro, William H et al. (2017) Self-Reported Usage, Functional Benefit, and Audiologic Characteristics of Cochlear Implant Patients Who Use a Contralateral Hearing Aid. Trends Hear 21:2331216517699530
Svrakic, Maja; Friedmann, David R; Berman, Phillip M et al. (2015) Measurement of Cochlear Implant Electrode Position From Intraoperative Post-insertion Skull Radiographs: A Validation Study. Otol Neurotol 36:1486-91
Neuman, Arlene C; Svirsky, Mario A (2013) Effect of hearing aid bandwidth on speech recognition performance of listeners using a cochlear implant and contralateral hearing aid (bimodal hearing). Ear Hear 34:553-61
Svirsky, Mario A; Ding, Nai; Sagi, Elad et al. (2013) VALIDATION OF ACOUSTIC MODELS OF AUDITORY NEURAL PROSTHESES. Proc IEEE Int Conf Acoust Speech Signal Process 2013:8629-8633
Svirsky, Mario A; Fitzgerald, Matthew B; Neuman, Arlene et al. (2012) Current and planned cochlear implant research at New York University Laboratory for Translational Auditory Research. J Am Acad Audiol 23:422-37