Binaural Hearing Lab

Understanding how information from the left and right ear is combined

The brain has an amazing ability to combine information from the left and right ear. This is critical for being able to locate where sounds came from and can be very helpful when trying to listen in noisy environments. This research focuses on understanding the requirements and limitations that determine when signals from each ear will be combined.

Developing techniques to improve bilateral cochlear implant users' performance

In recent years, patients have begun receiving two cochlear implants. Although this has yielded improvements in performance, the benefits that patients receive from having two cochlear implants are considerably less than the benefits that people with two acoustic ears receive. This research focuses on improving the benefits of having two cochlear implants as well as developing novel techniques for cochlear implant patients that take advantage of the availability of two ears.

Understanding how cochlear implants affect individuals' voices

People's are constantly listening to their own voice and altering their voice based on what they hear.  This research investigates how cochlear implants affect cochlear implant users' voices.