Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Single-Sided Deafness (SSD) can be defined as moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss with limited speech perception benefit in one ear and normal hearing in the contralateral ear. Despite the presence of one normal hearing ear, SSD patients typically experience difficulty with Localization and understanding speech in noise, in addition to a reduced quality of life Current hearing technology options for patients with SSD include contralateral routing of the signal (CROS) hearing aids and bone conduction devices. The main advantage of CROS hearing aids and bone conduction devices is the ability for the patient to hear sounds coming from the affected side. However, both of these technologies send the signal to the normal hearing ear, which keeps the patient in a unilateral listening condition. This results in the inability to take advantage of binaural listening cues to help improve speech understanding in noise and localization of sounds in the environment. Stimulation of the auditory pathway on the affected ear could provide binaural cues to SSD patients. Cochlear implantation may provide a benefit over the current hearing technology options for SSD, as it stimulates the auditory pathway on the affected side. This may permit bilateral stimulation of the auditory pathway, potentially allowing the patient to take advantage of binaural cues to improve speech understanding in noise, localization, and quality of life.
DOI: 10.17615/r5e0-tq89
Authors: Burton, Katharina, Dillon, Margaret T., Anderson, Meredith L.
Institution: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2968717120