The invention of cochlear implants in 1957 completely changed the lives of deaf individuals. Cochlear implants work in two parts: an external device that processes sound and turns it into electrical signals, and an internal piece of surgically implanted electrodes that stimulate the cochlear nerve. This electrode stimulation is processed by the brain as sound, allowing a deaf person to hear. With a simple surgery to implant the device, the profoundly deaf to can hear, oftentimes for the first time ever. Yet despite the amazing advancements of this new technology, it was not a perfect solution for all deaf individuals. It was designed for those who were completely deaf to gain the ability to hear basic noises. But for those who maintained partial hearing, those early cochlear implants would lead them to lose that ability and become completely reliant on the implants.

In 1985, the NIH began what has become long-term funding the University of Iowa’s Cochlear Implant Clinical Research Center. There, the research center invented hybrid implants, which function as a combination of hearing aids and cochlear implants. Instead of removing the remaining acoustic hearing that those who aren’t fully deaf retain, hybrid implants amplify noises so they can be heard with acoustic hearing, while still using electrode stimulation. These devices are particularly useful for those who maintain some frequencies of hearing, but not others, allowing each individual’s specific hearing assistance needs to be met.

The University of Iowa’s center was also the first place to start using multichannel cochlear implants for use in children. Multichannel implants have multiple electrodes, which allow for better frequency range and speech distinction. The research center found surgical methods to enable surgeons to place many electrodes in the smaller ear canals of children, and spent decades following patients to ensure there were no harmful effects of the implants.

The NIH continues to fund the University of Iowa’s, and other organizations, research into improved cochlear implants. Recent grants focus on improving cochlear implants’ ability to adapt to both silent rooms and crowded areas, without users having to manually switch settings. This technology has changed the lives of over a million people worldwide, and its continued development will improve quality of life for all users of the technology.