An exemplary cochlear implant includes a communication facility configured to receive at least a first data word and a second data word in series from a sound processor by way of a forward-telemetry link and a processing facility communicatively coupled to the communication facility and configured to 1) use the first data word to dynamically determine an address associated with an electrode by way of which a stimulation pulse is to be applied during a time slot of a stimulation frame and 2) use the second data word to determine an amplitude of the stimulation pulse that is to be applied by way of the electrode during the time slot of the stimulation frame. Corresponding systems and methods are also disclosed.