The current status and future of using computational models to individually optimise cochlear implant stimulation

Computational modeling of cochlear implant stimulation has a long history, but its development has mostly been restricted to generic models, with patient-specific modeling being relatively rare, in spite of its potential applications in both research and clinical practice.

The present state of computational cochlear implant models is discussed in relation to patient-specific modeling. From three-dimensional geometries derived from clinical imaging to full end-to-end models of the electrically stimulated peripheral auditory system, computational cochlear implant models have progressed to the point where they can meaningfully simulate responses to complex (speech) stimuli.

The development of patient-specific models that could be used to study the underlying mechanisms of cochlear implant functioning and ultimately be applied to make clinical diagnoses and recommendations, is within reach. However, there are still obstacles to overcome; the most immediate of these is the issue of auditory neural health, which is currently impossible to definitively assess in a living subject, yet has profound effects on electrical stimulation.