Binaural hearing in kids with cochlear implants
Official title: Binaural processing and hearing in children with cochlear implants
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11538363 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how age at deafness, auditory experience, and timing between implants affect hearing and thinking skills in children with bilateral cochlear implants and compares them to kids with normal hearing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $59,215 |
| NIH project number | 3R01DC020355-04S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11538363 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0–11 years who have bilateral cochlear implants or normal hearing, to compare development of binaural listening and cognition.
✕Less likely to help
Children without access to cochlear implants or without involvement in these specific testing protocols may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
Young children with bilateral cochlear implants and peers with normal hearing will be tested to understand how when deafness began and how much inter-implant delay influence bilateral hearing, listening in real life, and cognitive functions. The study combines ear-focused listening tests with brain activity measurements (EEG) and includes assessing executive function to explore links between hearing and thinking skills. By integrating perceptual data, brain signals, and cognition, the research aims to provide clinically relevant guidance for optimizing pediatric cochlear implant outcomes. The investigators at the University of Wisconsin–Madison will recruit four groups across the same age range to draw comparisons and uncover how auditory experience shapes development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could inform timing and programming of cochlear implants to maximize hearing and cognitive development in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that binaural hearing and cognitive development are linked, but this study seeks new insights by comparing age at onset and implant delay with EEG and executive function measures.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Litovsky, Ruth Y — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Litovsky, Ruth Y
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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.