Synchronized diagnostic measurement for cochlear implants

1. A method for objective diagnostic measurement for cochlear implant subjects, the method comprising:

in an audio diagnostic measurement system:

coordinating the delivery to a patient of an acoustic signal and an electrical signal so that:

i. the acoustic signal is developed as an acoustic stimulation input to the ear canal of a patient, and

ii. the electrical signal is developed as an electrical stimulation input to intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant; and

iii. wherein coordinating the delivery includes coordinating a delay time between the acoustic signal and the electrical signal;

measuring the evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals including:

i. measuring a near field response associated tissue near the intracochlear electrodes, and

measuring a far field response associated with the skin surface of the patient.

2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

analyzing the measured response to diagnose auditory perception of the patient.

3. A method according to claim 2 , wherein diagnosing the auditory perception includes determining a frequency-specific response relative to specific position of the electrodes in the cochlea.

4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

customizing operation of the cochlear implant for the patient based on the measured response.

5. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the cochlear implant is a bilateral cochlear implant.

6. An objective measurement system for a cochlear implant, the system comprising:

an acoustic stimulation input for developing an acoustic signal to the ear canal of a patient;

an electrical stimulation input for developing an electrical signal for intracochlear electrodes of a cochlear implant;

a control module for coordinating the delivery of the acoustic signal and the stimulation signal by coordinating a delay time between the acoustic signal and the electrical signal; and

a measurement module for measuring the evoked response in the patient to the delivered signals, including:

i. at least one near field measurement sensor for measuring a near field response in associated tissue near the intracochlear electrodes, and

ii. at least one far field measurement sensor for measuring a far field response associated with the skin surface of the patient.

7. A system according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a diagnosis module for analyzing the measured response to diagnose auditory perception of the patient.

8. A system according to claim 7 , wherein the diagnosis module analyzes the measured response by determining a frequency-specific response relative to specific position of the electrodes in the cochlea.

9. A system according to claim 6 , further comprising:

a fitting module for customizing operation of the cochlear implant for the patient based on the measured response.

10. A system according to claim 6 , wherein the cochlear implant is a bilateral cochlear implant.