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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 25, 2026

Sound Source Localization Testing in Single-sided Deafness Following Bone Conduction Intervention

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Published on: December 20, 2024

Interaural level differences and sound source localization for bilateral cochlear implant patients.

Michael F Dorman¹, Louise Loiselle, Josh Stohl

¹1Department of Speech and Hearing Science, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA; 2MED-EL Corporation, Durham, North Carolina, USA; and 3Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Ear and Hearing

|August 16, 2014

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Cochlear implant (CI) processing significantly reduces interaural level differences (ILDs), impacting sound localization accuracy. CI patients showed poorer localization, with errors related to the reduced ILD cues and signal type.

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An Automated System for Sound Localization Testing in Hearing-Impaired Listeners

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Published on: March 13, 2026

Area of Science:

Auditory Neuroscience
Biomedical Engineering
Signal Processing

Background:

Cochlear implants (CIs) aim to restore hearing but can alter sound localization cues.
Interaural level differences (ILDs) are crucial for horizontal plane sound localization.

Purpose of the Study:

To quantify remaining ILDs after CI signal processing.
To correlate these ILDs with sound source localization errors in CI users.

Main Methods:

MED-EL CIs and head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) were simulated in MATLAB.
Wideband, high-pass, and low-pass noise stimuli were used.
ILDs and localization accuracy were measured in 16 CI users and 34 normal-hearing listeners.

Main Results:

CI processing reduced maximum ILDs from 15-17 dB to 1-4 dB depending on signal type.
CI patients exhibited significantly poorer localization than normal-hearing listeners.
Localization accuracy was best with wideband/high-pass signals and worst with low-pass signals.

Conclusions:

Localization accuracy in CI users is linked to the magnitude of available ILD cues.
Error patterns suggest CI users divide the horizontal plane into broad sectors.
Limited ILD resolution within sectors results in poor localization acuity.