The Waisman Center has been at the forefront of research on cochlear implants and hearing science for more than two decades.
Hearing Research
Illuminating the brain through a new channel
A new study from the Binaural Hearing and Speech (BHS) Lab at the Waisman Center examines functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) – a neuroimaging option that is safe for individuals with metal implants
How speaking is a lot like playing darts
Winning a game of darts requires being accurate. A player who can pick a spot on the board, focus their mind, and execute the specific motor action needed to land the bullseye will win the game. And if they miss, well, practice makes perfect.
Finding the perfect click to measure hearing loss
Click. Click. Click. What’s that sound? It’s Waisman Center investigator Sriram Boothalingam exploring ways to develop more comprehensive and reliable hearing tests. To test for several types of hearing loss, audiologists use a small earphone …
New faculty focus: Sriram Boothalingam
How did you get into your field of research? After I learned that the inner ear can produce sounds on its own and that the brain controls what we hear, I was hooked!
Background noise may hinder toddlers’ ability to learn words
The environments children are in, including how much and what kinds of stimulation they are exposed to, influence what and how they learn. One important task for children is zeroing in on the information that’s …
Hearing research at the Waisman Center
More than 278 million people are affected by hearing loss caused by damaged hair cells in the inner ear that process sound to the brain. Waisman Center scientists work to research novel treatments and therapies for individuals with hearing loss that include stem cell research and cochlear implants.
Fulbright award sends Litovsky to Australia for hearing research
Ruth Litovsky, professor of communication sciences and disorders, has been named a 2014-15 Fulbright Scholar for the East-Asia Pacific Region. Litovsky will collaborate with colleagues in the Bionics Institute in Melbourne, Australia, on the use …
Deaf children: Study shows significant language progress after two cochlear implants
An ongoing study of 45 deaf children who had two cochlear implants finds that their language skills are within the normal range.
Study looks at benefits of two cochlear implants in deaf children
Nature has outfitted us with a pair of ears for good reason: having two ears enhances hearing.