Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) as a tool for predicting and optimising outcomes in cochlear implantation

Cortical brain changes or ‘reorganization’ occurs with deafness and subsequent ‘restoration’ of auditory input with a cochlear implant. These brain changes have been proposed as a contributing factor to the wide variability in speech recognition outcomes in these patients. We will therefore use functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-a unique and CI-compatible technique with the potential for functional cortical mapping- to predict and improve outcomes of CI in post-lingually deafened adults. We will explore brain responses in normal hearing adults (for comparison) and CI candidates will be also recruited. We expect to obtain significant correlations between speech-in-noise understanding in CI candidates and their cortical activity in language-related areas. These will therefore identify CI candidates that might require more intense speech rehabilitation and help manage expectations after cochlear implantation.