Courtesy of Advanced Bionics, LLC

Copyright 2018, provided courtesy of Advanced Bionics, LLC.

Speech Perception for Cochlear Implants

PURPOSE: This study is investigating ways to test speech perception via telepractice. Telepractice uses the internet and videoconferencing to provide access to clinical care when the cochlear implant (CI) recipient and clinician are in separate locations. The tests and procedures in this study are similar to those performed at regular clinical CI visits. Outcomes from this study will help us understand how people hear speech when listening in regular rooms that have background noise and reverberation.
TASK: Listen to and repeat back words and sentences in quiet, noise, and reverberation (echoes).
PARTICIPANTS: Male or female CI users age 11 years or older, proficient in spoken English, have at least six months' CI use.
TIME INVOLVED: 2 visits; each visit will be 2-3 hours, for a total of 4-6 hours of testing
COMPENSATION: $15 per hour to complete the study. We will also provide additional compensation for travel based on the miles from your residence to the laboratory.

Telepractice for Cochlear Implants: Aural Rehabilitation

PURPOSE: To investigate ways to use distance technology (telepractice) to improve access to clinical cochlear implant (CI) services. Telepractice uses the internet and videoconferencing to provide access to clinical care when the CI recipient and clinician are in separate locations. This study is investigating the use of telepractice for providing aural rehabilitation (listening therapy) for adults with CIs. The tests and procedures in this study are similar to those performed in typical listening therapy. This experiment is:

  • Aural Rehabilitation, Control Group – For adults with CIs, we will measure communication outcomes at four time intervals. Tests include (1) a cognitive screen, (2) two questionnaires about hearing, and (3) identifying speech, musical, and environmental sounds. This group does not receive listening therapy.

PARTICIPANTS: Male or female CI users age 19 years or older who lost hearing after acquiring spoken language, no additional disabilities that affect communication, native English speaker.
VISITS: 4 visits spaced 5 weeks apart; each visit will be around 3-4 hours.
COMPENSATION: $15 per hour to complete the study. We will also provide additional compensation for travel based on the miles from your residence to the laboratory.

Hearing Questionnaire for Cochlear Implants

PURPOSE: To learn more about how hearing loss affects daily life for adults with cochlear implants (CIs). We will use the results from this project to make a set of average scores for a questionnaire that was previously designed for people who use hearing aids.
TASKS: Complete a brief cognitive screening test (measures thinking and memory skills) and a questionnaire about hearing with a CI.
PARTICIPANTS: Male or female CI users age 19 years or older who lost hearing after acquiring spoken language, no additional disabilities that affect communication, native English speaker.
VISITS: 1 visit; approximately 1 hour.
COMPENSATION: $15 for completing this study.

Cognitive Screening for Adults with Normal Hearing

PURPOSE: To learn more about how adults with cochlear implants perform on a cognitive screening test, compared to adults with normal hearing. Cognitive screening tests measure thinking and memory skills. People with cochlear implants might score lower on this test than people without hearing loss because of the way the test is designed.
PARTICIPANTS: Males and females ages 19 and older who have normal hearing and are native speakers of American English. Especially in need of adults over age 55.
VISITS: 1 visit, less than 1 hour.
COMPENSATION: $15 per hour to complete the study.

Physiology, Perception, and Cognition

PURPOSE: To learn more about how physiology, perception, and cognition affect outcomes with a cochlear implant (CI).
PARTICIPANTS: CI users age 1 year and older, adults with normal hearing, and pre-lingually Deaf adults who are native American Sign Language (ASL) users.
VISITS: Depending on the study, visits range from 1-6 visits, each lasting 1-4 hours in length.
COMPENSATION: $15 per hour to complete the study. We will also provide additional compensation for travel based on the miles from your residence to the laboratory.

Effects of Substance Use on Auditory and Vestibular Function

PURPOSE: To learn more about how substance use affects hearing and balance function in adults.
PARTICIPANTS: Adults age 19-59 years who have used alcohol or drugs for 6 months or longer.
VISITS: 1 visit of approximately 2.5 hours.
COMPENSATION: $30 per hour to complete the study.

Contact Us

Phone: 402-472-3950

Email: cirl@unl.edu