Semin Hear 2011; 32(1): 001-002
DOI: 10.1055/s-0031-1271944
EDITORIAL

© Thieme Medical Publishers

Bimodal Hearing and Bilateral Implantation

Teresa Y.C Ching1
  • 1National Acoustic Laboratories, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
16 February 2011 (online)

A single cochlear implant brings much benefit to people with bilateral profound hearing loss, but it does not provide binaural hearing. Evidence is accumulating that binaural hearing made available either by combining a hearing aid with a cochlear implant in the opposite ear (bimodal fitting) or by providing bilateral cochlear implants improves performance in speech perception and localization, relative to unilateral cochlear implantation. Despite the voluminous research literature, as reviewed comprehensively by Carol Sammeth and colleagues, many questions remain. For people with residual hearing in one ear, constituting more than half of the population who receives a cochlear implant, would bimodal fitting or bilateral implantation lead to better outcomes? What specific benefits are obtainable with bimodal hearing but not with bilateral implantation? For people with profound hearing loss in both ears, how can outcomes of bilateral stimulation be improved?

In this issue of Seminars in Hearing, researchers provide interesting findings that have bearing on these questions. Hugh McDermott explains how acoustic amplification is superior to electric stimulation in transmitting pitch information for music perception; and Teresa Ching, Paola Incerti, and colleagues reveal the usefulness of pitch information for consonant perception. Adrian Fourcin and colleagues present novel aspects on characterizing the quality of voice produced by children with cochlear implants, an important area that has received relatively little attention. On maximizing outcomes of bilateral implantation, Richard Dowell and colleagues recommend implantation of children who meet candidacy criteria before 4 years of age; and Michael Dorman and colleagues highlight ways in which current devices and fitting methods may be improved.

This issue summarizes evidence that clearly calls for making bimodal fitting the management of choice for people who receive a cochlear implant in one ear and who have residual hearing in the nonimplanted ear. For people who have profound hearing loss in both ears, the management of choice should be bilateral cochlear implantation.

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