Spatial hearing requires the interpretation and integration of many different sensory inputs and needs to operate in very different acoustical environments. This makes it an excellent model system for understanding fundamental aspects of neural processing that relate to plasticity, adaptation and cue integration. Throughout the lifespan, spatial hearing is also dramatically affected by various forms of hearing loss, including ‘glue ear’ in children, noise-induced deafness in young adults, and age-related hearing loss in older people. This can impair speech perception in noisy environments, and may negatively affect social integration and educational attainment. We are therefore particularly interested in research that can help rehabilitate auditory function in individuals with hearing loss.
UCL Ear Institute 