University Retirees Volunteer Center

Seeking Adult Volunteers with a Cochlear Implant for Speech Perception Studies

The University of Minnesota Listen Lab researches hearing and speech perception to better understand what makes communication challenging in the real world, and the strategies listeners use to overcome those challenges. The UMN Listen Lab is currently recruiting individuals with one or two cochlear implants to participate in speech perception experiments. The long-term goals of the study are to improve clinical assessment, rehabilitation, and quality of life for individuals with hearing loss.

Details of volunteer duties: Participants with cochlear implants will:

• Listen to or watch videos of people speaking
• Repeat what you hear, or respond with an easy-to-use computer interface
• Be compensated at $25/hour for your time

A non-invasive eye-tracker will be used to measure eye position and pupil size during the tasks. Interested individuals may have the opportunity to participate in additional studies in the laboratory.

Dates, times, length of shifts: Participants will complete one or more short experiments during a visit to the lab. A single visit will last no more than two hours. Sessions are scheduled between 9AM and 5PM on weekdays, with the exact time determined based on your availability.

Location: Study sessions take place in Shevlin Hall on the UMN Twin Cities campus:

164 Pillsbury Dr. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Volunteer eligibility and training requirements: Participants in this study must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age.
• Have at least one cochlear implant.
• Be able to have a conversation over the phone. (If you find this very challenging, this study may be frustrating for you.)
• Be a native speaker of American English.
• Be cognitively normal. A 15-minute cognitive assessment may be performed prior to the study.

What to wear: Please dress for comfort.

Volunteers’ food/beverage availability: There is a water fountain available down the hall from the laboratory.

Volunteer compensation: $25 per hour

Parking/Transportation: Free parking is provided. In most cases, participants are given a permit to park in a designated spot next to our building. When those spaces are unavailable, parking tickets are validated from nearby campus parking garages.

Covid precautions and other safety information:

Face masks are now optional at Shevlin Hall. We often find that adults with cochlear implants prefer to watch our faces while we talk, but we would be happy to wear masks if this would be more comfortable for you. Most of your time during the session will be spent in an audiometic sound booth, separated from the researchers.

There are no significant risks of these research studies. Minor risks include tiredness and eye fatigue from viewing a computer screen. Frequent, untimed breaks will be provided throughout the session to maintain comfort.

Do you not use cochlear implants yourself, but know someone who does?

The study accepts participants from outside the URVC as well. Please feel free to forward this announcement to friends and family.

Deadline for volunteer application: Immediate and ongoing  

For further information or to register for the study, please contact the study coordinator:

Kate Teece, Aud.D.

Email (preferred): henn0158@umn.edu

Phone: 612-625-3327

Please indicate to the study coordinator that you are a URVC