The Inner Ear Electrophysiology Laboratory measures the electric activity in different parts of the auditory system to examine how the inner ear and the brain process sound. This information is beneficial to a variety of disorders, but it’s especially useful in better understanding the detailed patterns by which cochlear implants stimulate the brain.
Our objectives
Our labs aims to better understand what happens in the inner ear during adult and pediatric cochlear implant electrode insertion and how residual hearing can be preserved during and following surgery. This research will continue to help develop improved techniques and devices that won’t compromise residual hearing — the main barrier to broader implementation of cochlear implants.
Our team
Notable achievements
- Established the general procedures and concept of electrocochleography monitoring during cochlear implantation. This technique has been implemented in commercially available cochlear implant devices and can be used as intraoperative feedback to improve positioning of the electrode carrier. This has been shown to improve hearing preservation rates during and following surgery.
- Launched an NIH-funded multi-center clinical trial (U01) to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of intraoperative electrocochleography-based feedback to the surgeon. This clinical trial also evaluates the importance of hearing preservation on postoperative performance in cochlear implant candidates with substantial levels of residual hearing.
- Established an automated evaluation of postoperative electrode insertion parameters via computer tomography and determined its implication for hearing preservation as well as overall performance.
Current clinical trials, research studies and support
Project title: Utility of residual hearing in the cochlear implant ear
Funding: U01 collaborative research agreement | NIH/NIDCD
Objective: Investigate the benefit of intraoperative electrocochleography on hearing preservation outcomes and the utility of postoperative residual hearing in the cochlear implant ear.