Adjusting to sound after cochlear implants
Perceptual Adaptation Following Cochlear Implantation
The team is testing whether programming cochlear implants to match the ear's natural frequency map or relying on the brain's gradual adjustment leads to clearer speech for adults who lost hearing after learning to speak.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11176875 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will compare two ways of programming cochlear implants—one that matches the implant's frequency map to the ear's natural frequency-place layout and the usual clinical map that counts on the brain to adapt. You will complete hearing tests over weeks to months that measure pitch perception, speech understanding in quiet and noise, and perceived sound quality. The team will measure perceptual frequency mismatch between your implanted ear and a normal ear (when applicable) and track how those measures change over time. The goal is to find whether better initial implant mapping can reduce long adaptation periods and improve everyday hearing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults who lost hearing after developing spoken language (postlingually deaf) who already have a cochlear implant or are scheduled to receive one would be the best fit.
Not a fit: People who were born deaf, very young children, or those with central auditory processing problems or non-cochlear causes of hearing loss may not directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help cochlear implant users hear speech more clearly and more quickly by improving how implants are programmed.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research shows the auditory system can adapt to frequency mismatches but often does not fully compensate, and pilot data suggest frequency-place matching is promising but not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Svirsky, Mario a — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Svirsky, Mario a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.