Advances in Residual Hearing Preservation for Cochlear Implant Users

Cochlear implantation has revolutionized auditory rehabilitation for individuals with moderate to profound sensorineural hearing loss. However, the preservation of residual hearing—particularly in patients with useful low-frequency hearing—remains a critical and evolving challenge. This Research Topic aims to foster dialogue and innovation in the protection and utilization of residual hearing, in line with the mission to translate clinical and surgical advances into improved patient outcomes.

The criteria for cochlear implantation candidacy have expanded to include those with significant bilateral high-frequency hearing loss but preserved low frequencies. Traditional hearing aids often fail to provide meaningful benefit for these individuals. Electroacoustic stimulation (EAS) has emerged as a transformative solution, delivering both high frequency electric and low frequency acoustic stimulation within the same ear, with the goal of increasing the likelihood of preserving delicate cochlear structures and sustaining low-frequency hearing post-implantation.

Importantly, preserved acoustic hearing offers a multitude of benefits, including improved speech understanding in noise and enhanced music perception compared to electric stimulation alone, at least for some users. The ability to retain surviving cochlear hair cells and auditory nerve fibres keeps the possibility of future regenerative therapies available. Furthermore, routine adoption of electrophysiological monitoring, such as intraoperative electrocochleography (ECoG), provides valuable insights into cochlear health during and after the implantation process.

Frontiers in Audiology and Otology welcomes contributions that support the multidisciplinary investigation of hearing preservation and EAS, focused on innovation and translational impact. We seek submissions from surgeons, audiologists, neuroscientists, and industry experts that address these and related questions:

o Novel and less traumatic surgical approaches for electrode insertion and their clinical outcomes.

o Device engineering advances, including electrode array design optimized for atraumatic cochlear entry and enhanced acoustic-electric integration.

o Auditory and neural processing in the context of preserved and electrically supplemented hearing, including emerging diagnostic techniques such as ECoG.

o Patient-focused research, including assessments of speech and music perception, and analysis of quality of life outcomes following hearing preservation.

Original research articles, reviews, clinical studies, and translational reports are welcome. By engaging with the latest scientific, technical, and clinical developments, this collection will serve to promote a holistic, evidence-based approach to maximizing the benefits of cochlear implantation and residual hearing preservation for patients worldwide.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: cochlear implants, hearing preservation, telemedicine, auditory processing, patient-focused research, personalised care, functional hearing, quality of life, intraoperative electrocochleography (ECoG), cochlear hair cells, auditory nerve fibres

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.