
How to apply
Apply for a joint PhD with the Melbourne and the University of Manchester.
This is one of two research projects exploring how we can improve the lives of children with cochlear implants. The University of Manchester is the home institution for this project. To view the Melbourne-based partner project, click here.
Despite the recent advances in cochlear implant (CI) systems, the amount of speech information available for children with a cochlear implant compared to their normal-hearing peers or hearing-aid wearing peers is limited. These differences become particularly apparent in challenging situations, such as noisy environments when several speakers are present. Some features of speech that are essential for communication, such as stress, intonation and emphasis can be significantly impaired in paediatric CI users.
In addition, music perception is poor in this group, which can have consequences for development and social interaction. A combination of electrical hearing with preserved acoustic hearing has the potential to address these issues and enable children with a CI to more closely follow a normal course of auditory development. To date, the clinical evaluation of benefits following hearing preservation CI has focused on laboratory tests like pure-tone audiometry and speech perception, which fail to capture real-life benefits.
Understanding and being able to measure the real-life benefits of preserved acoustic hearing will have significant direct implications for children’s development and the activities of their daily lives.
Key research questions in this PhD are:
*Click on the researcher's name above to learn more about their publication and grant successes.
We are seeking a PhD candidate with the following skills:
The PhD candidate will benefit from the combined expertise of the project supervisors, and the embedding into two research environments. Dr Karolina Kluk-de Kort has expertise in cochlear dead regions, psychoacoustics and electric-acoustic stimulation. A/Prof Karyn Galvin has expertise in clinical management of children and adults using cochlear implants, evaluating everyday listening experiences, and working with families to understand barriers and facilitators to the use of hearing technology.
This PhD project will be based at the University of Manchester with a minimum 12-month stay at the University of Melbourne.
The candidate will be enrolled in the PhD program at the School of Health Sciences at the University of Manchester and in the PhD program at School of Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne.
The candidate will be based at Manchester Centre for Audiology and Deafness (ManCAD), which is s uniquely positioned within HCDH to provide the candidate with subject experts related to all tests. Specifically, the division of HCDH includes experts in child language development (ESRC International Centre for Language and Communicative Development; LuCiD), cognition and auditory processing (ManCAD) and all aspects of speech processing (Speech and Language Therapy; SLT).
Prof Iain Bruce (senior surgeon) leads the program of paediatric hearing preservation cochlear implantation at Manchester Children’s Hospital and will provide the candidate with access to the relevant patient population.
To apply for this joint PhD opportunity, and to view the entry requirements, visit How to apply.
Apply for a joint PhD with the Melbourne and the University of Manchester.
Discover what researchers from the Priestley Scholars are working on right now..
Hear the stories of current and past graduate researchers. Find out about their experiences at the University and where their degrees have taken them.
Find a supervisor at the University of Melbourne