Study of Frequency Maps in Adults Using Single-Sided Deaf Cochlear Implants to Improve Hearing and Speech

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the adaptation process in adults who have recently received a cochlear implant for single-sided deafness. The study aims to understand how reducing mismatches in pitch perception affects sound quality, device usage, and speech understanding in these patients. This research is focused on people with sensorineural hearing loss using cochlear implants and involves testing different sound frequency maps. Participants will use four different frequency maps on their speech processors during the first month after their cochlear implant activation. One map is the standard care map, while the other three have higher low-frequency edges. These maps will be alternated daily for the first month except when participants choose to use a preferred map. After the first month, participants will select one map weekly based on comparing all four to use for the following week. Throughout the study, participants speech perception will be tested multiple times over a year using speech-in-noise and word recognition scores with each frequency map. Sound quality surveys will also be completed at several points. The study includes baseline assessments and follow-ups at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after implant activation to monitor changes in hearing and device use.

Perceptual Adaptation Following Cochlear Implantation (Aim 3a)