MED-EL's Global Research Initiatives

Research and development efforts have always constituted a primary focus for MED-EL. Past and present research has led to innovations such as bilateral cochlear implantation and Electric-Acoustic Stimulation. Research efforts contribute not only to advances in technology, but also in expanding candidacy criteria and
improvements in medical reimbursement.

It is a primary goal of MED-EL to maintain a strong commitment to medical research, cochlear implant technology, and the needs of those with hearing loss. MED-EL is currently sponsoring on-going research studies in:

Adult and pediatric bilateral implantation :: Use of a cochlear implant in both ears, as opposed to just one ear, is intended to provide better speech understanding in noise and the ability to determine where a sound originated.

Electric-Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) :: Combined stimulation through a hearing aid and a cochlear implant in the same ear is intended for patients with residual hearing in the low frequencies and is designed to provide improved performance over a hearing aid or cochlear implant in isolation.

Implantation of very young children :: Research has shown that implantation at very young ages provides the best potential for success with a cochlear implant. MED-EL is currently researching the implications and potential benefits of implanting children under 12 months of age.

Deep insertion :: Deep insertion with a longer electrode
array provides access to more neural elements within the
cochlea and is intended to better match the tonotopic arrangement of a normal hearing ear for more natural hearing.

Hearing preservation :: Research has shown that MED-EL electrode arrays provide the safest design for preservation of cochlear anatomy. Now, MED-EL has developed an even softer electrode array and specific surgical protocol designed for greater hearing preservation.

QuickFit programming paradigms :: MED-EL is constantly researching new ways to make the programming process faster and easier for both the audiologist and the user. MED-EL’s cochlear implant system is inherently designed to provide accurate and successful cochlear implant MAPs, with little time or behavioral information.

Future research efforts will include:

A fully implantable cochlear implant design :: For those who desire the technology of a cochlear implant, without the hassle of external equipment.

Drug delivery systems :: For delivery of critical medications intended to promote growth of the neural elements responsible for transmitting sound.