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Cochlear Implant Research Laboratory
Sarah E. Warren, PhD, AuD, is assistant professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders and has served on the faculty since 2017. She received her BA in Music at the University of Central Arkansas in 2008, her AuD in 2014 and her PhD in 2017, both from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She is scheduled to complete her master’s in Public Health at the University of Memphis in 2021. Her clinical history includes working in pediatric diagnostics, hearing aids, cochlear implants and bone-anchored implants. Dr. Warren teaches Implant Device Technology, Pediatric Audiology, Audiological Concepts and Anatomy and Physiology of Hearing Systems. She is director of the Cochlear Implant Research Lab (CIRL) and founding member of the Mid-South Cochlear Implant Program at the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center.
Research Interests The vision of the Cochlear Implant Research Lab is to advance patient outcomes in adults and children with severe to profound hearing loss through the use of cochlear implants and other implantable hearing devices. This vision is unique in that it has a population health focus of investigating how social, economic and ecological factors impact intervention outcomes in people with significant hearing loss. Dr. Warren’s work has also contributed to developing clinical practice techniques to standardize and optimize cochlear implant care.
Current Research and Applications In 2019, Dr. Warren established the Mid-South Cochlear Implant Program at the Memphis Speech and Hearing Center with the twofold purpose of applying the most current cochlear implant research and evaluating the outcomes of cochlear implant care in the Memphis community. The clinical program works seamlessly with the Cochlear Implant Research Lab to achieve its mission of advancing cochlear implant care. Dr. Warren works collaboratively with pediatric health care facilities in Memphis. This includes her work with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to study effects of hearing loss on populations of people suffering from hearing disorders secondary to treatment of childhood cancers, and work with Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital to understand factors that influence communication and educational success in children with hearing loss.
Future Endeavors Planned research in the Cochlear Implant Research Lab will focus on understanding hearing health care disparities and how they affect communication and education outcomes, particularly in pediatric populations. Additionally, Dr. Warren’s future research plans include implementing and evaluating programs to improve communication, education and quality of life outcomes in people who have poor access or compliance with cochlear implants, and those with cochlear implants who are underperforming in a variety of measures.
Student Involvement Dr. Warren enjoys working with highly motivated students who are interested in cochlear implants, children with hearing loss, clinical best practices and/or public health in communication sciences disorders. Students who are interested in challenging established health care norms to apply novel population-focused solutions in interventions with adults and children who have hearing loss are encouraged to contact Dr. Warren to discuss these interests.
Publication Spotlight 1. Warren., S.E., Dunbar, M.N., Bosworth, C. & Agrawal, S. (under review). Evaluation of a Novel Bimodal Fitting Formula in Advanced Bionics Cochlear Implant Recipients. 2. Warren, S.E. & Dunbar, M.N. (2018). Bimodal Hearing in Cochlear
Implant Users. Seminars in Hearing, 39:4, 405-413.
3. Entwisle, L.K., Warren, S.E., Messersmith, J.J. (2018). Cochlear Implantation for Children and Adults with Severe-to-Profound hearing Loss. Seminars in Hearing, 39:4, 390-404. 4. American Academy of Audiology. (2019). Clinical Practice
Guidelines: Cochlear Implants. [core author]
