Additional stimulation to improve hearing in Cochlear Implant patients
Regular visitors to this site will have seen a series of papers on Haptic Stimulation from the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Services (USAIS). In his latest paper – Using haptic stimulation to enhance auditory perception in hearing-impaired listeners – Mark Fletcher reviews the challenges of building a device to help Cochlear Implant listening.
USAIS’ Mark Fletcher has been working, with his team, to improve hearing in Cochlear Implant patients through the use of a device which is attached to the skin. The device responds to sound and provides additional stimulus though the skin which the brain can interpret as sound. When used with a Cochlear Implant this can improve the way the brain interprets sound and provides additional information such as the direction from which the sound originates. In the latest paper on the subject, Mark states:
If successful, such a device could offer an inexpensive, noninvasive means of improving educational, work, and social experiences for hearing-impaired individuals, including those without access to hearing-assistive devices.
This article reviews the evidence that haptic stimulation can effectively provide sound information. It then discusses the research and development required for this approach to be implemented in a clinically viable device. This includes discussion of what sound information should be provided and how that information can be extracted and delivered.
To read the full paper click on one of the links below:
Using haptic stimulation to enhance auditory perception in hearing-impaired listeners – Full Article
If you would like to know more about Electro-Haptic Research please visit the dedicated research page by clicking on the link below:
If you would like to contact Mark Fletcher you can do so though USAIS by emailing ais@soton.ac.uk