Rehabilitation and Diagnosis of Hearing Loss based on Electric Acoustic Interaction

Introduction

Hearing loss is the most common sensory deficit in the elderly, and it is becoming a severe social as well as a health problem. Across the whole lifespan, from newborns to the elderly, hearing loss impairs the exchange of information, thus significantly impacting everyday life. This can lead to loneliness, isolation, dependence, frustration, and communication disorders.

Cochlear Implants

Cochlear implants (CIs) are hearing prosthetics that stimulate the auditory nerve with electrodes placed inside the cochlea. CIs are gradually being implanted in subjects retaining low-frequency residual hearing.

Benefits and Variability

In general, these subjects obtain large benefits in speech perception from electric acoustic stimulation. However, large variability exists, and some subjects do not benefit. Therefore, it is highly desirable to create objective diagnostics to:

1. Assess acoustic low-frequency hearing to indicate cochlear implantation.
2. Monitor and preserve hearing during the implantation procedure.
3. Understand the mechanisms related to electric acoustic stimulation benefits.

READIHEAR Project

The groundbreaking nature of the READIHEAR project is to investigate the fundamental interaction mechanisms between electric and acoustic stimulation across the auditory pathway, from the cochlea up to the auditory cortex.

Objectives

The fundamental understanding gained from this project will set the basis for a new generation of diagnostic devices for hearing loss that combine, for the first time, minimally invasive electric acoustic stimulation.

Novel Auditory Prosthetic

Moreover, READIHEAR will assay a novel auditory prosthetic that utilizes the interaction mechanisms between acoustic and electric stimulation delivered through minimally invasive electrodes.

Impact

These developments will be beneficial for a large population suffering from hearing loss across the whole lifespan. This includes:

• Young children who will benefit from improved hearing diagnostics.
• The elderly population who will benefit from minimally invasive electric acoustic stimulation technology as a treatment for age-related hearing loss.