# COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION IN ADULTS WITH ASYMMETRIC HEARING LOSS CLINICAL TRIAL

> **NIH NIH U01** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $499,023

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Many patients with debilitating hearing loss have notable hearing asymmetry. When a large asymmetry exists
between ears, attempts to fit bilateral amplification can be problematic. If one ear has moderate hearing loss
and one ear has severe to profound hearing loss, patients often discontinue amplification in the poor ear, due
to limited benefit. Consequently, they listen with only one ear, which receives an impoverished signal caused
by the hearing loss. Without bilateral input, there is little support for binaural hearing advantages. For these
individuals, the only available treatment that can provide hearing to the poor ear is a cochlear implant (CI).
Treatment with a CI in the poor ear and a hearing aid (HA) in the contralateral better ear would allow for
bilateral input and potentially provide binaural hearing benefits. Unfortunately, these patients are not routinely
implanted in the deaf ear because the contralateral ear has moderate rather than severe to profound hearing
loss. A longitudinal prospective, single-arm, multi-center clinical trial that addresses the effects of asymmetric
hearing loss in various listening contexts and evaluates potential treatment with a CI is critically needed.
Findings from the proposed study will also guide a future Phase III clinical trial. In Aim 1, preliminary efficacy
data is obtained in adults with asymmetric hearing loss who receive a CI in the poor ear and maintain a HA in
the better ear. To evaluate the effects of treatment to the poor ear, word recognition and sound audibility with a
CI are compared to pre-implant performance with a HA. Aim 2 evaluates effectiveness of bimodal hearing in
this population; bimodal refers to use of a CI in the poor ear while maintaining a HA in the better ear. Measures
are sound localization in quiet and noise, speech recognition in noise, and speech recognition at soft
presentation levels. Post-implant bimodal performance is compared to the best aided pre-implant performance.
The protocol will include characterization and quantification of asymmetric hearing loss effects and subsequent
treatment as perceived by the individual and the individual's spouse/significant other. Quality of Life metrics
address general health, communication function, hearing disability/handicap, social and emotional
consequences of hearing loss, and post-treatment satisfaction and perceived benefit. Aim 2 also collects
essential preliminary information related to patient selection, recruitment, test measures, methodology, data
management and assurance of data quality to be used in the development of a future Phase III clinical trial.
The protocol's clinical utility, including efficiency of administration, ease of interpretation, and applicability to
clinical decision making across multiple sites will be determined. In summary, the results of the proposed study
could profoundly influence the direction of clinical decisions and treatment for a substantial patient population
who must re...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9841393
- **Project number:** 5U01DC014938-04
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** JILL B FIRSZT
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $499,023
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-01-01 → 2021-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9841393

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9841393, COCHLEAR IMPLANTATION IN ADULTS WITH ASYMMETRIC HEARING LOSS CLINICAL TRIAL (5U01DC014938-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9841393. Licensed CC0.

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