Lina Reiss, Ph.D.
Meet the Researcher
Lina Reiss Ph.D. has been an Assistant Professor in the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) since 2010. Previously, Reiss was a postdoctoral scholar at the University of Iowa where she conducted research in the Hybrid cochlear implant clinical trials. Reiss earned her doctorate in Biomedical Engineering from Johns Hopkins University in 2005.
The Research
Oregon Health & Science University
Changes in Residual Hearing in a Hearing-impaired Guinea Pig Model of Hybrid Cochlear Implants (CIs)
The goal of the current study is to understand mechanisms of hearing loss with “hybrid” or “electro-acoustic” cochlear implants (CIs), a new type of CI designed to preserve low-frequency hearing and allow combined acoustic-electric stimulation in the same ear. Hybrid CI users perform significantly better than standard CI users on musical melody recognition, voice recognition, and speech recognition in the presence of background talkers. However, approximately 10% of hybrid CI patients lose all residual hearing, and another 20% lose 20-30 dB after implantation. We hypothesize that in addition to surgical trauma, electrical stimulation through the hybrid CIs also damages cochlear cells, leading to the residual hearing loss (HL). Aim 1 is to determine the contribution of electrical stimulation to the residual HL in hybrid CI guinea pigs with noise-induced steeply-sloping high-frequency hearing loss (NIHFHL). Aim 2 is to examine the effect of electrical stimulation on the cochlear pathology. The findings will guide the development of strategies to prevent hearing loss with electrical stimulation, and allow extension of the hybrid concept to all cochlear implant recipients with usable residual hearing.
Research area: Cochlear implants
Long-term goal of research: To improve residual hearing preservation with “hybrid” or “electro-acoustic” cochlear implants (CIs), a new type of CI designed to preserve low-frequency hearing and allow combined acoustic-electric stimulation in the same ear.