Development of a virtual bimodal Cochlea Implant listener

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The number of candidates suitable for cochlear implants (CIs) has increased substantially over the last 15 years as a result of a dramatic increase in the effectiveness of and candidacy for these devices. This includes an increasing group of persons, who are cochlear-implanted in one ear but have residual acoustic hearing in the other ear that is typically supported with a hearing aid. These patients are known as bimodal, but we have only a limited understanding of how electric and acoustic hearing interact in everyday complex listening contexts. This may explain the observation that bimodal listeners have difficulty in understanding speech, especially in social situations. This project will develop a virtual bimodal CI listener, i.e. a computer model that is based on the unique physiological characteristics of these listeners for simulating speech intelligibility. The work will explore: (1) the mechanisms of the interaction between acoustic and electric hearing, (2) the usable and used binaural speech cues, and (3) the interdependencies between bimodal hearing and the most up-to-date signal processing strategies in use. This computer model will facilitate an extensive evaluation of signal processing strategies quickly and at low cost. This will result in better hearing for bimodal listeners.