معرفی
Melissa Polonenko is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences at the University of Minnesota, affiliated with the Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain. Her research focuses on understanding how children with hearing loss develop communication skills through advanced electrophysiological techniques like EEG and behavioral measures using naturalistic speech stimuli.
- Education:
- Postdoc: Neuroscience & Biomedical Engineering, University of Rochester
- PhD: Neuroscience, University of Toronto (2018)
- MClSc: Audiology, Western University (2009)
- BMSc: Physiology, Western University (2006)
Research Interests: Her work bridges clinical and scientific domains, emphasizing neuroplasticity in auditory development, cochlear implant outcomes, and vestibular function in pediatric populations. She investigates how multi-sensory integration and auditory brainstem responses can inform interventions for hearing-impaired children.
Recent Article Trends: Recent studies explore the impact of cochlear implants on cortical reorganization, effects of speech masking on subcortical responses, and how fundamental frequency influences talker differentiation. These contributions highlight her focus on translational research improving hearing device efficacy and developmental outcomes.
Dr. Polonenko leads the PoloLab, dedicated to advancing diagnostic tools and therapies for hearing-impaired children. She has secured grants to study longitudinal cochlear implant outcomes and bilateral hearing strategies since 2022.
