Understanding how combined electric and acoustic stimulation affects hearing in children and adults
Official title: Binaural cue sensitivity in children and adults with combined electric and acoustic stimulation
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11011269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using both electric and acoustic sounds together can help people with cochlear implants, both kids and adults, understand speech better in noisy places and improve their ability to hear from different directions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | December 1, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $663,027 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DC020194-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11011269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and adults who are cochlear implant recipients or candidates for combined electric and acoustic stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with normal hearing or those who do not use cochlear implants are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the benefits of combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS) for cochlear implant users, focusing on both children and adults. It aims to understand how EAS influences speech understanding in noisy environments and spatial hearing abilities. The study will assess the development of binaural hearing through behavioral and objective measures, particularly in pediatric patients, to identify the optimal timing and methods for EAS fitting. By examining the differences in auditory processing between various age groups, the research seeks to provide data-driven insights for audiological management.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance hearing outcomes for cochlear implant users, particularly in challenging listening situations.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown significant benefits of EAS in adult cochlear implant users, but this research aims to explore its effects in pediatric populations, making it a novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gifford, Rene H — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Gifford, Rene H
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.