Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) sound processor located external to a patient, 2) a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and implanted within the patient, 3) an electrode array communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant and located within a cochlea of the patient, and 4) a receiver communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and configured to be in communication with an ear of the patient. The EAS sound processor operates in accordance with an acoustic-only mode during a post-implant time period and detects audio content presented to the patient, directs the receiver to apply acoustic stimulation, and prevents the cochlear implant from applying electrical stimulation representative of audio content presented to the patient during the post-implant time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: An exemplary system includes 1) an electro-acoustic stimulation (“EAS”) sound processor located external to a patient, 2) a cochlear implant communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and implanted within the patient, 3) an electrode array communicatively coupled to the cochlear implant and located within a cochlea of the patient, and 4) a receiver communicatively coupled to the EAS sound processor and configured to be in communication with an ear of the patient. The EAS sound processor operates in accordance with an acoustic-only mode during a post-implant time period and detects audio content presented to the patient, directs the receiver to apply acoustic stimulation, and prevents the cochlear implant from applying electrical stimulation representative of audio content presented to the patient during the post-implant time period. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A universal strategy selector (USS) for use with a multichannel cochlear prosthesis includes: (a) a processor, or equivalent; (b) a selector; and (c) a display. The multichannel cochlear prosthesis is characterized by multiple stimulation channels through which a specific pattern of electrical stimulation, modulated by acoustic signals, and in accordance with a selected speech processing strategy, may be spatiotemporal applied to a patients cochlea in order to yield speech intelligibility. The processor of the USS includes appropriate processing means coupled to the multichannel cochlear prosthesis for defining one of a plurality of speech processing strategies for use by the multichannel cochlear prosthesis. In one embodiment, the processing means is realized using a personal computer (PC) programmed with appropriate software. The speech processing strategy that may be selected by the USS may be selected from a multiplicity of speech processing strategies.