Mechanisms that underlie poorer binaural outcomes in patients with asymmetrical hearing and bilateral cochlear implants

项目摘要/摘要 双耳听力可以让听者更好地理解噪音中的语音并定位声音。这项建议 旨在更清楚地了解导致双耳听力较差的机制 在植入人工耳蜗术的患者中。拟议中的实验调查了不良听力结果的影响。 单耳或双耳对言语知觉的影响以及脑干双耳加工的计算模型。 一只耳朵或两只耳朵的言语感知异常，言语效果不佳，可能会导致较差 噪声环境下的语音理解。目标1将调查在模拟或模拟的情况下言语知觉的差异 实际的不对称听力，即一只耳朵或两只耳朵的语言理解能力较差。影响人工耳蜗术的因素 植入患者，即通过人工耳蜗电极传达的时间信息的保真度，将是 在听力正常的年轻和老年听众中模拟，以解释衰老效应。通过测试参与者 在听力正常和人工耳蜗植入的情况下，结果将对感知的变化产生重要影响 有疾病和听力正常的感知。 不对称听力的双耳提示编码不当可能会导致对双耳的敏感度降低 提示和较差的声音定位性能。AIM 2将开发一个双耳编码的计算模型 在脑干中，其中一侧或双侧恶化，如听力障碍，以预测 双耳加工中的听力损失和人工耳蜗术后刺激。这种方法将允许解释 在脑干涉及的生理机制方面的知觉结果。特定的因素， 对听力损失患者和使用人工耳蜗术的患者的影响可以建模和评估 以分别说明沿双耳路径发生的变化。 该培训计划将导致以下具体科学技能的发展：(1)健全 人工耳蜗植入模拟和语音感知实验的处理，(2)人工耳蜗的编程 用于直连实验的植入物，(3)双耳计算模型的开发和测试 加工，以及(4)进行电生理记录并了解其局限性的能力。这其中的每一个 技能对申请者作为科学家的发展和未来双耳听力研究的职业生涯至关重要。使用 这些和其他现有的研究技能，将有可能建立一条独立的和富有成效的 双侧人工耳蜗术后听力正常成人双耳听力结果的研究。 良好的双耳听力可以改善患者的生活。这项提案中的项目结果将会有所下降 限制双耳听力障碍的知觉和生理问题 植入人工耳蜗术。最终，这些结果对于理解双耳听力的局限性将是重要的。 用于人工耳蜗术和改进的人工耳蜗术处理策略。

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Binaural hearing allows listeners to better understand speech in noise and localize sounds. This proposal aims to develop a clearer understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to poorer binaural hearing abilities in patients with cochlear implants. The proposed experiments investigate the effects of poor hearing outcomes in one or both ears on speech perception and computational modeling of binaural processing in the brainstem. Abnormal speech perception with poor speech outcomes in one or both ears may contribute to poorer speech understanding in noise. Aim 1 will investigate differences in speech perception in cases of simulated or actual asymmetrical hearing, when speech understanding is poor in one or both ears. Factors that affect cochlear implant patients, namely the fidelity of temporal information conveyed by cochlear implant electrodes, will be simulated in younger and older listeners with normal hearing to account for aging effects. By testing participants with normal hearing and cochlear implants, results will have important implications for changes in perception with disease and perception with normal hearing. Poor encoding of binaural cues with asymmetrical hearing may result in reduced sensitivity to binaural cues and poorer sound localization performance. Aim 2 will develop a computational model of binaural encoding in the brainstem where one or both sides are deteriorated as in hearing impairment to predict the effects of hearing loss and cochlear implant stimulation on binaural processing. This approach will allow for an explanation of perceptual results in terms of the physiological mechanisms involved in the brainstem. Specific factors that affect patients with hearing loss and patients that use cochlear implants can be modeled and assessed separately to account for changes that occur along the binaural pathway. The training program will result in the development of the following specific scientific skills: (1) sound processing for cochlear implant simulations and speech perception experiments, (2) programming cochlear implants for direct connect experiments, (3) development and testing of computational models of binaural processing, and (4) ability to make electrophysiological recordings and understand their limitations. Each of these skills is critical to the applicant’s development as a scientist and future career in binaural hearing research. With these and other existing research skills, it will be possible to establish an independent and productive line of research concerning binaural hearing outcomes for adults with bilateral cochlear implants and normal hearing. Good binaural hearing improves the lives of patients. The results of the projects in this proposal will shed light on the perceptual and physiological problems that limit binaural hearing abilities in listeners with bilateral cochlear implants. Ultimately, these results will be important in understanding the limitations to binaural hearing for cochlear implants and improved cochlear implant processing strategies.