Patent ID: 7496405

Claim:
A method for fitting a sound processing strategy that utilizes simultaneous stimulation of a subset of electrodes in an electrode array inserted within a user's cochlea, the method comprising: selecting a fitting group comprising at least a first electrode from the electrode array; applying a known stimulus to the electrode array; using the known stimulus to determine whether a second electrode that is not part of the fitting group would be stimulated simultaneously with the first electrode; disabling all the electrodes in the electrode array that are not part of the fitting group; applying a first portion of a current to the first electrode; and applying to the first electrode a second portion of the current that would otherwise be applied to the second electrode, wherein the second portion of the current would otherwise be applied to the second electrode when the first and second electrodes are enabled and stimulated simultaneously so as to cause the user to perceive a pitch that is different than a pitch that is perceived when either the first or second electrode is stimulated individually.