MRC Senior Fellowship Hearing Research (MR/S002537/1)
Developing electrophysiological measures of brain activity to optimise cochlear implant (CI) outcomes
Objective 1: Understand variations in cortical responses to CI stimulation
Objective 2: Measure brain adaptation and reorganization following CI activation
Objective 3: Evaluate re-mapping based on cortical responses
Objective 4: Measure neural indicators of binaural integration from bilateral implants
Both EARS training package (BEARS) to maximise hearing abilities in teenage bilateral cochlear implant users
The BEARS project is funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) and is led by Dr Deborah Vickers. The project is evaluating a package of virtual-reality games to train spatial hearing in older children and teenagers with bilateral cochlear implants. We are trying to determine if use of the BEARS games improves everyday hearing, quality of life and is cost-effective.
To learn more you can visit our BEARS website or our BEARS twitter
If you are interested to know how we developed the BEARS games using input from young people with bilateral cochlear implants please check our recent journal publication
Characterizing and alleviating distortions in sound and music quality in adults using cochlear implants
This project investigates how music can aid in the characterization and alleviation of certain distortions that occur during cochlear implant processing, such as monaural and interaural frequency-to-place mismatch.
Our clinical tests are based on the concept of music re-engineering, which aims to measure the impact of pre-modification of sound on potential distortions.
Our research project has two main objectives:
- Provide clinicians with new tools that can help them better understand and target the challenges faced by their patients in their daily lives, particularly when it comes to their perception of music.
- Optimize the care of every individual cochlear implant user, ensuring that they can make the best use possible of their implant and, potentially, rediscover the simple joy of appreciating a piece of music.