Using haptic stimulation to enhance auditory perception in hearing-impaired listeners

Abstract

Introduction: hearing-assistive devices, such as hearing aids and cochlear implants, transform the lives of hearing-impaired people. However, users often struggle to locate and segregate sounds. This leads to impaired threat detection and an inability to understand speech in noisy environments. Recently, evidence has emerged that segregation and localisation can be improved by providing missing sound-information through haptic stimulation.

Areas covered: this article reviews the evidence that haptic stimulation can effectively provide missing sound-information. It then discusses the research and development required for this approach to be implemented in a clinically-viable device. This includes discussion of what sound information should be provided and how that information can be extracted and delivered.

Expert opinion: although this research area has only recently emerged, it builds on a significant body of work showing that sound information can be effectively transferred through haptic stimulation. Current evidence suggests that haptic stimulation is highly effective at providing missing sound-information to cochlear implant users. However, a great deal of work remains to implement this approach in an effective wearable device. If successful, such a device could offer an inexpensive, non-invasive means of improving educational, work, and social experiences for hearing-impaired individuals, including those without access to hearing-assistive devices.

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