Improving cochlear implants for better hearing in complex sound environments
Official title: Optimizing bilateral and single-sided-deafness cochlear implants for functioning in complex auditory environments
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11099947 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking to help people with hearing loss who use cochlear implants by figuring out how to make it easier for them to hear and understand speech in noisy places, so if you have trouble hearing in those situations, you might be able to join in and share your experiences!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $547,904 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020506-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11099947 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals with bilateral cochlear implants or those who are single-sided deaf, seeking to enhance their auditory experience.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing or those who do not use cochlear implants may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the performance of cochlear implants for individuals with bilateral deafness and those with single-sided deafness. It aims to understand the challenges these users face in noisy environments and how their hearing can be optimized. By investigating the effects of sound interference between ears and the perception of loudness, the study seeks to identify ways to improve speech understanding and spatial hearing. Patients may participate in assessments that explore how different auditory inputs affect their hearing experience.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significant improvements in hearing capabilities for cochlear implant users, allowing them to better navigate complex auditory environments.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in optimizing cochlear implant technology, indicating that this approach could yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Maryland, College Park
College Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Goupell, Matthew J. — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Goupell, Matthew J.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How microtubules help inner-ear hair cells develop and prevent deafness
Researchers are looking at how a gene called Cep85l helps inner-ear hair cells build the tiny bundles needed for hearing, which could explain some inherited hearing loss.
-
Gene therapy approach to Usher syndrome type 1F using compact PCDH15 in the inner ear
A researcher team is developing a compact gene therapy using specially designed PCDH15 pieces delivered by AAV to the inner ear to help people with Usher syndrome type 1F.
-
New genes for early-onset hearing loss and precision medicine
Researchers are trying to identify genetic causes of hearing loss present at birth or in early childhood to enable earlier, DNA-based diagnoses and future gene-based therapies.
-
Optimizing how CI users hear in busy real-world environments
This grant studies how to improve speech understanding and spatial hearing for people using cochlear implants, especially those with implants in both ears or with single-sided deafness.
-
Improving genetic testing for hearing loss
This project works to make genetic test results clearer and more useful for people with inherited hearing loss.
-
How Usher-1 proteins in inner-ear hair cells affect hearing
This project looks at how key Usher-1 proteins help tiny hair cells in the inner ear work and how problems in these proteins lead to inherited hearing and vision loss for people with Usher syndrome.
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.