Hearing and Implants

Being part of the ENT clinic, our research focuses on the study of auditory processing in hearing impaired and deaf individuals in relation to stimulation mode (acoustical, vibrational, electrical). Parameters studied vary from basal functions (effectivity of stimulation modes) to subcortical processing (a.o. directional hearing) up to cortical processing (a.o. speech perception, language development). The effects of rehabilitation on experienced residual handicap are also studied.

Special attention is paid to binaural hearing, using both behavioral psychophysical testing as well as brain imaging techniques. Furthermore, plasticity in subjects with congenital deafness or hearing impairment is a recent new study topic.

New forms of rehabilitation of hearing impairment and deafness are under study like direct mechanical stimulation of the cochlea, combined electric and acoustic stimulation in high frequency deafness, bilateral electrical or mechanical stimulation.