The Future is Hear: Looking Ahead at Cochlear Implant Technology
By John Galvin, PhD and Javia Headley, Marketing Communications Manager Cochlear implant research at The House Institute started in 1957 when a patient alerted William House, MD, to the work of Andre Djourno. Djourno was a neurophysicist who implanted an electrode into the ear of a patient living with severe ear disease and found the…
Our Current Research Efforts
• Improving the accuracy of acoustic tumor tissue dissection and the preservation of essential structures • Increasing sound perception for cochlear implant users • Assessing symptoms of neurofibromatosis type 2, including quality of life and hand function • Genetic and molecular analysis of neurofibromatosis type 2 tumors • Improving medical management of patients with vestibular…
Temporal Bone Anatomy and Function
The temporal bone is divided functionally into the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear (Figure 1). As sound enters the ear, it travels through the external auditory canal, vibrates the tympanic membrane and middle ear bones (also called ossicles) (Figure 2), and then is translated into a neural impulse by the inner ear. As…
The Origins of the Cochlear Implant
One of the House Institute’s greatest research accomplishments was the development of the first cochlear implant for clinical trial by William House, MD, DDS, and Engineer Jack Urban. This is William House’s story. Electrical stimulation of the ear dates back to the early 1800s when Physicist Alesandro Volta inserted an electrode in his ear and…
Benefits of Cochlear Implantation for Single-Sided Deafness
Losing hearing in one ear can be more debilitating than many people imagine. Single-sided deafness can significantly reduce sound localization, creating confusion as to where a sound is coming from. People with single-sided deafness also have greater difficulty understanding speech, especially when someone speaks on their deaf side. Many people with single-sided deafness also experience…
