Research at the Division of Clinical Audiology focusses on the central auditory system in people with hearing impairments or who have been fitted with hearing aids (hearing aids, cochlear implant CI).

As part of basic research, it focuses on the plasticity of the auditory cortex after missing/altered auditory signals (hearing loss or signals from hearing aids and CI) and investigates the effects on hearing performance as well as on the interaction with the visual system after sensory deprivation and after the implementation of hearing aids (hearing aids, CI).

On the other hand, systematic research is being conducted into factors that influence speech comprehension with hearing aids in order to optimise clinical care outcomes. This optimisation is based on methods that can be used to objectify the benefits of hearing aids.

Various methods are used in our research projects. In addition to subjective measurement procedures such as speech audiometry, psychoacoustic and neuropsychological test procedures, we use various objective measurement procedures. These include electroencephalography (EEG), brainstem audiometry, functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), eye tracking and pupillometry.

One methodological research focus is the optimisation of measurement protocols and data analysis procedures for investigating brain activity in everyday and realistic listening situations, such as in a busy café or on a train platform.

Another focus is on the planning and implementation of intervention studies. The aim of developing suitable therapy strategies is to further improve the results of hearing system treatment.