Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Localization ability with bimodal hearing aids and bilateral cochlear implants.

Bernhard U Seeber1, Uwe Baumann, Hugo Fastl

  • 1AG Technische Akustik, MMK, Technische Universität München, Arcisstr 21, D-80333 München, Germany. bernhard_seeber@gmx.de

The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America
|October 14, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Bimodal hearing aids and cochlear implants (CIs) offer some sound localization benefits, particularly for individuals with residual hearing. Bilateral CIs also show varied localization abilities, with one user nearing normal hearing performance.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Guideline-Based Cochlear Implant Care: A Model for Structuring Delegated Technical Aftercare.

Laryngo- rhino- otologie·2026
Same author

Functional hearing and low frequency hearing preservation after cochlear implant surgery is achievable with FLEX electrode arrays: Real world evidence from the MEHS Registry.

PloS one·2026
Same author

Perceptual measures of normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners across defined virtual acoustic scenes.

International journal of audiology·2026
Same author

Identification of decision-making criteria for device selection by cochlear implant patients - a pilot study.

European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery·2026
Same author

MED-EL hearing solution registry: An examination of the strengths and limitations of a cochlear implant registry.

PloS one·2025
Same author

Factors influencing the outcome of cochlear implantation: what role is played by secondary and post-secondary education?

HNO·2025

Area of Science:

  • Audiology and Hearing Science
  • Neuroscience
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Some patients use hearing aids in one ear alongside a cochlear implant (CI) in the other (bimodal stimulation).
  • Bimodal use and bilateral CIs are anecdotally associated with improved speech, music perception, and sound localization.
  • Limited objective data exists on sound localization abilities in these patient groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantitatively assess sound localization ability in patients using bimodal hearing (CI + hearing aid) and bilateral CIs.
  • To compare localization performance between bimodal and bilateral CI configurations.
  • To investigate the influence of residual hearing on localization in bimodal users.

Main Methods:

  • A survey was conducted with 11 bimodal CI users and 4 bilateral CI users.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Participants adjusted a laser pointer to the perceived sound source direction in the horizontal plane.
  • Localization accuracy was measured using a computer-controlled system and trackball manipulation.

    • Main Results:

    • In the bimodal group, two subjects with substantial residual hearing demonstrated localization ability with bimodal fitting; only the one with better hearing could localize with a single device.
    • Five bimodal subjects with more hearing loss showed side discrimination with bimodal aids; four could already do so with a single device.
    • One bilateral CI user exhibited near-normal localization accuracy, also localizing with a single CI; the other three showed limited bilateral localization ability.

    Conclusions:

    • Sound localization ability in bimodal and bilateral CI users is variable and influenced by residual hearing and device configuration.
    • Bimodal stimulation may enhance localization for some individuals, especially those with residual hearing.
    • Further research is needed to optimize device fitting for improved spatial hearing in CI users.