More than 180,000 people around the world have received cochlear implants - surgically implanted devices that electrically stimulate the auditory nerve (the cochlear) to partially restore hearing. When implanting the electrodes, it is difficult to correctly map the electrode location to the right location on the cochlear, which can result in poor pitch perception for the patient. A multidisciplinary research group at The University of Queensland has developed a method for accurately measuring the tonotopic response for residual hearing, to create a “placefrequency map” of the cochlear. This map can then be used to optimally align the electrodes of the implant. Correct mapping leads to faster tuning, reducing the inconvenience, time and costs associated with post-operative visits. 

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