A tool to evaluate and guide the programming of hearing implants

Dr Dayse Tavora-Vieira

The use of electrophysiology to optimize hearing implants in hearing-impaired recipients

Clinician Research Fellowship

$198,134

2020 - 2023

Fiona Stanley Hospital

Dr Dayse Tavora-Vieira is the Head of Audiology at Fiona Stanley Hospital and was awarded a clinical Research Fellowship in 2019 to investigate the effectiveness of using auditory evoked brain waves as an objective tool to evaluate and guide the programming of hearing implants. The aim of this fellowship was to improve patient outcome and satisfaction, as well as reducing clinical costs.

Cochlear, middle ear, or bone conduction implants are a solution for people suffering from hearing loss that cannot be remediated using conventional hearing aids. Programming of hearing implants relies on a patient’s subjective input, considerable programming, and rehabilitation time. Patient subjectivity often results in sub-optimal sound stimulation leading to poorer outcomes, reduced patient satisfaction, and an increase in cost of care.

The aim of Dr Tavora-Vieira’s project was to investigate an objective tool to verify hearing implant fitting in people with profound deafness. Over the past three years, their results have demonstrated that approximately 50% of cochlear implant users were under-optimised due to the subjective nature of programming the device. Dr Tavora-Vieira’s research further showed that ensuring activation of the auditory cortex through optimised electrical stimulation via a cochlear implant resulted in significant improvements in speech understanding.

The results of this study have led to the comprehensive integration of auditory evoked potential measures as a reliable tool for assessing cochlear implant outcomes by adult audiology services across the state. As a result, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Royal Perth Hospital have adopted a protocol that mandates the referral of all implant recipients to Fiona Stanley Hospital for the purpose of verifying their cochlear implant. This is leading to better hearing outcomes for cochlear implant users and increasing patients’ satisfaction.

Dr Tavora-Vieira’s research is the first of its kind and has gained national and international recognition, with Western Australia leading the way in implementing hearing optimisation in a clinical setting. This project has already resulted in improved health outcomes for people with hearing loss by ensuring equality of care across the state-wide implant program.

Dr Tavora-Vieira said "The fellowship provided through an agreement between the Department of Health and the Raine Medical Research Foundation, has been crucial in supporting my translational clinical research project. Moreover, the fellowship has been instrumental in supporting my research career development, and it has opened up numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth, and I am grateful for the support it has provided".