[An overview of the studies on combined electric and acoustic stimulation of auditory system].
This paper discusses the technology of combined electric and acoustic stimulation (EAS) of the auditory system, which is a new therapy for the patients suffering from severe to profound high- and mid-frequency hearing loss but still having their low-frequency hearing. EAS uses hearing aid and cochlear implant technology together in the same ear. The hearing aid acoustically amplifies at low-frequencies, while the cochlear implant electrically stimulates at mid- and high-frequencies. The inner ear processes acoustic and electric stimuli simultaneously. This technique can provide substantial benefit in speech understanding for individuals with severe high-frequency hearing loss and can maintain their residual lower-frequency acoustic hearing. The study of EAS would significantly enhance the conventional cochlear implant therapy and benefit the patients afflicted with severe to profound hearing loss.
Guan
Tian
T
Research Centre of Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China.
Zhu
Ziyan
Z
Ye
Datian
D
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D001299:Audiometry; D001306:Auditory Pathways; D001309:Auditory Threshold / Q000502:physiology; D019929:Cochlear Implantation; D003054:Cochlear Implants; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D034381:Hearing Loss / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006316:Hearing Loss, High-Frequency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans