Study of Early Use and Sound Perception Changes in Adults with Cochlear Implants

What this Trial Is About

This observational study focuses on adults who use cochlear implants, aiming to understand how their ability to distinguish simple sounds changes and relates to improvements in speech perception. The research includes both newly implanted users and experienced cochlear implant users who have used the same stimulation strategy since initial activation. The goal is to measure and analyze sound perception and speech comprehension over the first year of implant use. Participants will complete around 25 self-administered test sessions at home during the first 3 months after cochlear implant activation. These tests assess the ability to discriminate sounds that vary in frequency and timing. After the home testing phase, participants will return to the laboratory for three additional test sessions up to one year post-activation. The study uses take-home computers and test equipment sent to participants for convenience. Throughout the study, researchers will evaluate changes in speech perception by measuring the percentage of correct responses during speech tests from baseline through one year. Participants will be monitored over time through repeated test sessions, both at home and in the lab. The study is sponsored by NYU Langone Health and is expected to run until mid-2027, involving adults aged 18 to 85 years who have postlingual deafness without other communicative or cognitive disorders.

Early Cochlear Implant Use