A Tailored and Transdisciplinary Approach to Cochlear Implants

Abstract

Non-auditory stimulation (NAS) is a potential complication in cochlear implants (CIs) that can impact both the effectiveness of sound transmission and the quality of life for users. This issue can often be mitigated through remedial CI device programming strategies. In some cases, the symptoms of NAS are persistent irrespective of typical audiological interventions. To develop an intervention for NAS that is tailored to the auditory system and surrounding structures of an individual CI user requires a transdisciplinary approach. This chapter proposes a model for transdisciplinary, patient-centred care of CI users who suffer from persistent NAS complications from intracochlear electrical stimulation. The model combines aspects of anatomy, radiology, computational modelling and audiology to gain an understanding of the parameters that give rise to the occurrence of NAS and to provide an avenue for investigating novel intervention strategies. Addressing unintended facial nerve stimulation by a CI is used to demonstrate the application of the model.