UNC Cochlear Implant Research

03/09/2026

: Sloop and colleagues investigated patterns of participant attrition in a cochlear implant (CI) study. While sociodemographic factors did not differ between groups, participants who elected to withdraw had poorer low-frequency acoustic hearing, were less likely to use electric-acoustic stimulation (vs. Cl alone), had more tonotopic mismatch, and showed poorer early word recognition. 🦻🏿

📄: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/lary.70464

03/03/2026

From community to classrooms, happy World Hearing Day! 🌎👂🏽 We’re thankful for the opportunity to work with incredible research participants who share their time and energy to advance cochlear implant care.

02/28/2026

: Dahvae Turner, BA (The Children's Cochlear Implant Center at UNC graduate extern and UNC CI Research Lab trainee) shared preliminary data on the impact of coding strategy on speech in noise processing for bilaterally implanted children at the American Auditory Society’s 2026 conference. 🦻🏾🐏

02/27/2026

On National Thank A Resident and Fellow Day, we would like to take a moment to thank the many UNC OHNS residents and fellows for their efforts in advancing evidence-based practice. 🦻🏾👂🏽

Swipe to see some contributions from our current fellow and residents. 🐏

02/25/2026

Happy International Cochlear Implant Day! Thank you for sharing your hearing journeys and experiences with your cochlear implant with us! 🦻🏼🦻🏿

02/20/2026

Spend a day in the life with Elena (UNC School of Medicine), one of the UNC CI Research Lab’s medical student trainees! 🐏🦻🏽

02/18/2026

Investigating for cochlear implantation looks like… celebrating the ways cochlear implant recipients express themselves. 🦻🏾🌀

02/15/2026

Are you a cochlear implant recipient? If so, please consider filling out our brief survey! 🦻🏿🦻🏼

All responses will remain anonymous.

02/11/2026

: Listening effort is the mental energy and cognitive resources used to understand speech. Swipe to learn more about how we measure listening effort! 👂🏽🦻🏾

01/28/2026

: Dr. Dillon joined Evelien Bienstman on the Met Hertz en ziel podcast to discuss outcomes for cochlear implant recipients with single-sided deafness. Check out the episode (in English and in Dutch) using the link below! 👂🏻

🎧: https://19b4eaf1-6855-4d38-815b-3c386368c0d0.libsyn.com/opnieuw-in-stereo-met-een-ci

01/27/2026

: Dr. Park and Grace Rowland
(UNC AuD student) found that children with single-sided deafness who underwent cochlear implantation before age 5 demonstrated more stable device use, faster improvements in speech recognition, and better spatial hearing, supporting earlier implantation in this group. 🦻🏾👂🏻

📄: https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/aaa/jaaa/pre-prints/content-jaaa-25-oct-0100

01/23/2026

: Sylvia Mihailescu (UNC School of Medicine) presented a poster on hearing profiles and outcomes after cochlear implantation for patients with Noonan Syndrome at the 2026 Combined Sections Meeting (The Triological Society) in Orlando, FL. 👂🏽🦻🏾