Early Cochlear Implant Use

Early Cochlear Implant Use

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.