This observational study will examine newly activated cochlear implant users and determine whether their abilities to discern simple sounds change and relate to improved speech perception. Take-home computers and test-equipment will be sent home, and subjects will complete approximately 25 test sessions over the first 3 months of cochlea implant use. Then, subjects will be tested 3 more times in the laboratory until 1 year-post activation. The primary objective is to determine and quantify how sounds change and speech perception improves over the course of early cochlear implant use.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Postlingually deaf cochlear implant users
2. severe or profound hearing loss
3. who do not have other diagnoses communicative or cognitive disorders.
4. Test population: no prior experience with cochlear implants (recruitment happens prior to cochlear implantation).
5. Control population: subjects who have used the same stimulation strategy since initial stimulation, who note no continuing improvements or changes with their devices with respect to speech comprehension.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed cognitive or communicative disorders (other than deafness)
2. Below 18 years of age
3. Above the age of 85 years old.

The population includes hearing impaired adults. Both genders will be recruited. All subjects will be recruited from the NYU Cochlear Implant Clinic.

The de-identified participant data from the final research dataset will be shared upon reasonable request beginning 9 to 36 months after publication or as required by a condition of awards or supporting agreements, provided the requesting investigator executes a data use agreement with NYU Langone Health. This instance of data sharing will also require separate IRB review as well as review from NYU Langone's Data Sharing Strategy Board (DSSB). Requests should be directed to:ariel.hight@nyulangone.org. The protocol and statistical analysis plan will be posted on Clinicaltrials.gov only as required by federal regulation or supporting awards and agreements.

Beginning 9 months and ending 36 months following article publication or as required by a condition of awards and agreements supporting the research

The investigator who proposed to use the data will be granted access upon reasonable request. Requests should be directed to ariel.hight@nyulangone.org. To gain access, data requestors will need to sign a data access agreement. This instance of data sharing will also require separate IRB review as well as review from NYU Langone's DSSB.