UNC Cochlear Implant Research

12/04/2025

Investigating for cochlear implantation looks like… understanding the benefits of binaural hearing in older adults. 🦻🏾🌀

11/25/2025

The Annual UNC Cochlear Implantation Simulation Lab is attended by AuD graduate students in Dr. Dillon’s CI signal coding course, UNC SOM students, as well as UNC OHNS residents and neurotology fellow. This lab is a fun opportunity to collaborate and learn across professional disciplines! 👂🏽🐏

Thank you to MED-EL USA for this training opportunity.

11/25/2025

We are thankful for: Research Participants

Their time & energy participating in clinical research creates positive changes for other children & adults with hearing loss. 🩵

11/24/2025

: Several members of the UNC Ear and Hearing Team attended the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association’s 2025 Convention in Washington, D.C. 🐏

🦻🏿Gigi Rowland, a graduate research assistant, presented a poster on patterns in spread of excitation and benefits with individualized mapping procedures. She also received a meritorious poster award for this work.
👂🏽Sarah Spencer ( ) discussed approaches to listening and spoken language tele-therapy, and special considerations for children with single-sided deafness.

11/24/2025

Two pediatric research participants share their hearing journey stories!

”…with my old hearing aid I could hear 3 inches and with my Bonebridge I can hear 100 inches!” Lily and Kenzie are two young research participants taking part in a study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the MED-EL Bonebridge system in pediatric patients — specifically, children imp...

11/21/2025

: Drs. Brown, Dillon, and Overton shared data during the 2025 HEARRING meeting in Shizuoka, Japan.

🦻🏻 Dr. Brown moderated a panel discussion on adult hearing screening protocols.
🦻🏿 Dr. Dillon shared data on the benefits of individualizing EAS device programming, moderated a panel on single-sided deafness, and contributed to a panel discussion on counseling strategies.
🦻🏾 Dr. Overton shared a case presentation on the importance of knowing etiology of hearing loss.

11/21/2025

Hearing loss prevented Susan Heyroth from fully enjoying life.

11/18/2025

: Drs. Richter, Scharf, and Dillon shared the process of modifying a clinical loudness scale for cochlear implant recipients with low vision in the November/December issue of the ASHA Leader. 🦻🏾

📄 Check out the full article here: https://leader.pubs.asha.org/do/10.1044/leader.AEA.30112025.aud-cochlear-implant-loudness-scale-ci-mapping.16/full/

11/17/2025

: Drs. Brown, Overton, and Park shared data at the 15th Asia Pacific Symposium on Cochlear Implants and Related Sciences in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. 🐏👂🏽

🦻🏿Dr. Brown discussed cochlear microanatomy and hearing preservation outcomes.
🦻🏻Dr. Overton shared clinical expertise with the MED-EL Remote Care and SONNET 3 technology.
🦻🏾Dr. Park presented outcomes and considerations for pediatric CI users with single-sided deafness.

11/17/2025

Dr. Brown successfully implanted the first MED-EL Flex34 electrode array at the UNC Cochlear Implant Program🎉! A milestone that underscores the UNC Ear & Hearing team’s commitment to providing individualized treatment for children and adults with hearing loss. The team carefully selects the internal device that best matches each patient’s cochlear anatomy and hearing configuration to ensure optimal outcomes.

11/14/2025

: Molly Poole (UNC School of Medicine student) shared data on temporal bone thickness when measured using CT versus MRI during UNC SOM Student Research Day. 🐏🦻🏽

11/12/2025

: “Functional acoustic hearing” is the range of frequencies that can be acoustically amplified by an electric-acoustic stimulation device. Swipe to learn more about how we consider functional acoustic hearing during device programming. 🦻🏿