  This dissertation covers a single-processor approach to the speech processing
pipeline of bilateral Cochlear Implants (CIs). The use of only a single
processor to provide binaural stimulation signals overcomes the synchronization
problem, which is an existing challenging problem in the deployment of
bilateral CI devices. The developed single-processor speech processing pipeline
provides CI users with a sense of directionality. Its non-synchronization
feature as well as low computational and memory requirements make it a suitable
solution for actual deployment. A speech enhancement framework is developed
that incorporates different non-Euclidean speech distortion criteria and
different noise environments. This framework not only allows the design of
environment-optimized parameters but also enables a user-specific solution
where the anthropometric measurements of an individual user are incorporated
into the training process to obtain individualized bilateral parameters. The
developed techniques are primarily meant for bilateral CIs, however, they are
general purpose in the sense that they are also applicable to binaural hearing
aids, bimodal devices having hearing aid in one ear and cochlear implant in the
other ear as well as dual-channel speech enhancement applications. Extensive
experiments have shown the effectiveness of the developed solution in six
commonly encountered noise environments compared to a similar one-channel
pipeline when using two separate processors or when using independent
sequential processing.
