Integrated bimodal and bilateral cochlear implant users: who performs better, and how do they compare with normal hearing listeners on a 'real-life' test battery?

OBJECTIVES: Adults typically receive only one cochlear implant (CI). Bimodal fitting (i.e. a contralateral hearing aid) is recommended when aidable hearing remains. However, standard hearing aids typically function independently from a CI, requiring the user to integrate disparate signals. Integrated bimodal technology has been developed to address this challenge....

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Results can inform counselling about realistic outcome expectations for bilateral CI versus bimodal fittings, but fitting decisions should still be guided by individual patient audiological profiles and existing guidelines — no immediate protocol change indicated.

Head-to-head real-world performance comparisons between bilateral CI and bimodal users provide clinicians and candidates with more ecologically valid outcome data than lab-only speech tests.

1. 01Study in Cochlear Implants International compares bilateral CI, bimodal (CI + contralateral hearing aid), and normal-hearing adults.
2. 02Uses a 'real-life' test battery, giving stronger ecological validity than traditional speech-in-quiet measures.
3. 03Normal-hearing listeners serve as the reference performance ceiling for both implanted groups.
4. 04Bimodal users retain acoustic hearing cues from the non-implanted ear, potentially aiding certain listening tasks.
5. 05Findings have direct relevance to candidacy counselling and rehabilitation goal-setting.

PMID

42777068

DOI

10.1080/14670100.2026.2735701.

Journal

Cochlear Implants International

Publication type

research_article

Evidence level

2b

Population

Adults with bilateral cochlear implants, bimodal fittings (CI plus contralateral hearing aid), and normal-hearing listeners

Intervention

Bilateral cochlear implant fitting; bimodal fitting (CI + contralateral hearing aid)

Comparator

Normal-hearing listeners