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Research project

Mathematical modelling of the electric potential from cochlear implants for improved diagnosis of poor outcomes

Project overview

Cochlear implants restore hearing. The implants generate electrical currents in the inner ear which are recognised as sound by the brain. The currents generate a pattern of electrical signals on the scalp. We have found that this pattern is different in people who report difficulties hearing with their implant. Importantly the patterns can be easily detected in a standard clinic. We are using this finding to develop a new diagnostic tool for people who otherwise have hard to diagnose problems with their implant. This project paves the way for a validated test for use in all cochlear implant clinics.

Staff

Lead researcher

Doctor Tracey Newman

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • The demographic of populations worldwide is changing. People are living longer but with more years with affected by disability in the last two decades of life. The societal and economic consequences of this change are not being well managed. There is a lag in the development of health interventions and a need for rapid learning for future health and infrastructure planning. Typically, people in poorer economic situations are disproportionately affected by disability in later life.
  • Hearing loss and dementia: I lead multidisciplinary research focussed on hearing loss, the use of cochlear implants to restore hearing in otherwise deaf people and the interaction between hearing loss and dementia.

Connect with Tracey

Other researchers

Doctor Mary Grasmeder

Senior Clinical Scientist (Audiology)

Connect with Mary

Collaborating research institutes, centres and groups

Clinical Neurosciences

Examining how clinical and environmental factors can affect brain development.

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