The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a smartphone-based rehabilitation method, Multimodal Acoustic Therapy (MAT), integrating linguistic and nonlinguistic auditory training in improving hearing outcomes in cochlear implant (CI) users.
✦ The floor
Discussion
Signed responses from readers of the wire.
This RCT provides early evidence that smartphone-delivered MAT may improve rehabilitation outcomes in pediatric cochlear implant users; clinicians should monitor the full published results before adopting the protocol, but the design is rigorous enough to take seriously.
Accessible, app-based rehabilitation tools for pediatric cochlear implant users could meaningfully expand the reach and intensity of post-implant auditory training beyond clinic walls.
- 01RCT design (PMID 42097868) evaluating Multimodal Acoustic Therapy (MAT) in children with cochlear implants.
- 02MAT is delivered via smartphone, combining linguistic and non-linguistic auditory stimuli.
- 03Targets auditory skill development in the critical post-implant rehabilitation window.
- 04Published in the American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology.
- 05Smartphone delivery could improve home-based therapy adherence and access.
Multimodal Acoustic Therapy integrating linguistic and non-linguistic stimuli improves rehabilitation outcomes in children with cochlear implants.
studyunclearSmartphone-based delivery of MAT is a feasible rehabilitation method for pediatric cochlear implant users.
studyunclear- PMID
- 42097868
- DOI
- 10.1044/2026_AJSLP-25-00175.
- Journal
- American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology
- Publication type
- research_article
- Evidence level
- 1b
- Population
- Children with cochlear implants undergoing auditory rehabilitation
- Intervention
- Multimodal Acoustic Therapy (MAT) delivered via smartphone, combining linguistic and non-linguistic auditory stimuli
- Comparator
- Standard rehabilitation (implied control arm)
Primary outcomes
Auditory rehabilitation outcomes in pediatric cochlear implant users