NYU Langone Health’s Cochlear Implant Center in the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery provides training to future and current surgeons and audiologists who wish to specialize in evaluating, treating, and rehabilitating adults and children with moderate-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss.

As a medical student, resident, or fellow, you learn from prominent surgeons, audiologists, and cochlear implant researchers. You also have access to the latest cochlear implant and auditory brainstem implant technologies to improve patient outcomes and expand access to implants for those in need.

Our faculty has published extensively in top peer-reviewed medical and audiological journals. Topics have included the basic science of hearing, electrode design and insertion, novel speech-processing strategies, new surgical techniques, and patient outcome studies.

Our faculty members also serve on advisory and planning committees for national and international cochlear implant meetings, present at medical conferences worldwide, and lecture nationally and internationally as visiting professors.

Cochlear Implant Center Education

Our nationally recognized Cochlear Implant Center provides medical training, in a high-volume setting, in evaluating and treating patients with all levels and types of hearing loss. Medical students, residents, fellows, and professionals benefit from participating in our pioneering work on cochlear implant and auditory brainstem implant systems.

Medical students may participate in electives at the Cochlear Implant Center if they choose to explore otolaryngology as part of NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s Curriculum for the 21st Century. House staff can participate in rotations at the center as part of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Residency program and the Neurotology Fellowship.

During your training, you interact with and work alongside our team of neurotologic surgeons, otolaryngologists, radiologists, audiologists, and speech–language pathologists. Your clinical experiences are enhanced through participation in weekly Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery grand rounds and lectures.

We also offer a 12-month externship for fourth-year audiology students to gain experience in all aspects of cochlear implantation, including patient evaluation, programming and troubleshooting cochlear implants, and managing treatments for patients and follow-up care. For more information about the cochlear implantation externship, contact William H. Shapiro, AuD, at william.shapiro@nyulangone.org.

Cochlear Implant Center Continuing Education

Our annual two-day continuing education course, Maximizing Performance in Cochlear Implant Recipients—Programming Concepts, instructs healthcare professionals who program cochlear implants in new techniques to improve device performance. These include the use of genetic algorithms and objective and subjective measures.

Members of the Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery faculty and invited international faculty teach the interactive course, which brings together more than 200 clinicians for lectures, roundtable discussions, and case studies. Learning activities emphasize audience participation and focus on programming bimodal, electroacoustic, and single-sided deafness fittings.

This course is accredited by the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association (ASHA) and the American Academy of Audiology.

This course is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cochlear Implant Center Research

Our world-renowned cochlear implant researchers conduct studies on the following topics to develop new and more effective therapies for hearing-impaired patients:

• the efficacy and safety of cochlear implants
• outcomes of cochlear implants in various populations, including bilateral implant recipients and the elderly
• surgical techniques and complications
• electrode array design enabling easy insertion, minimal trauma during and after insertion, replacement in the event of device failure, power management, more restricted and efficient ganglion cell stimulation, and improved speech-processing strategies
• device-programming techniques to augment speech perception
• speech-processing strategies and outcomes in various populations, including patients with long-term deafness
• optimized cochlear implant configuration
• auditory brainstem implants in children

NYU Langone residents, fellows, and audiologists have opportunities to learn alongside Cochlear Implant Center faculty to explore these research areas.
Co-directors Susan B. Waltzman, PhD, and J. Thomas Roland Jr., MD, have also authored the textbook Cochlear Implants, an essential resource for students and professionals in the design and use of these devices.

Cochlear Implant Center Clinical Research

We participate in a number of ongoing clinical trials that are investigating new electrodes, processors, processing strategies, implant configurations, and expanded criteria for all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–approved cochlear implant systems, including those manufactured by Advanced Bionics, Cochlear, and MED-EL.

Other clinical research projects include a study examining quality of life in children who have received auditory brainstem implants and a National Institutes of Health–sponsored study investigating asymmetric hearing loss in adults.

Learn more about Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery clinical research.

Cochlear Implant Center Clinical Services

We evaluate adults and children with severe-to-profound hearing loss to determine their eligibility for cochlear implants and auditory brainstem implants. We also provide and coordinate rehabilitation for patients who undergo these procedures as well as programming services and education.

Our team has performed procedures in more than 4,000 adults and children with FDA-approved cochlear implants (from Advanced Bionics, Cochlear, and MED-EL) and auditory brainstem implants at NYU Langone Health hospitals and outpatient locations and VA NY Harbor Healthcare System. Learn more about patient care at the Cochlear Implant Center.

Contact Us

For questions or to learn more about education and research at the Cochlear Implant Center, contact Kristin Montella, division administrator, research, and academic operations, at kristin.montella@nyulangone.org.