Understanding how cochlear implants help restore hearing over time
Official title: Perceptual Adaptation Following Cochlear Implantation
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10942879 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how cochlear implants can help people who lost their hearing understand speech again, and it aims to find better ways to help their brains adjust to the sounds from the implants so they can get used to them faster.
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 start | August 26, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $682,911 |
| NIH project number | 1R01DC021980-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10942879 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults who have received cochlear implants after losing their hearing but had previously learned to speak.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are prelingually deaf or have not received cochlear implants may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how cochlear implants (CIs) help individuals regain their ability to understand speech after losing their hearing. It focuses on the adaptation process that occurs in postlingually deaf users, examining how the brain adjusts to the differences between natural hearing and the sound produced by CIs. The study aims to explore alternative methods to improve speech perception by aligning the frequency response of CIs with the natural function of the cochlea, potentially reducing the time needed for patients to adapt to their implants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved speech understanding and sound quality for cochlear implant users.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that the auditory system can adapt to cochlear implants, but this study aims to explore new methods that have not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
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
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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.