Cochlear Implants for Listening Effort in Cochlear Implant Users
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
This trial aims to understand how people with cochlear implants process speech in real-world settings. Researchers will study listening effort and comprehension by measuring the brain's work in understanding speech. The trial includes cochlear implant users and people with normal hearing to assess how different conditions affect listening. Good candidates for this trial are adults who have used a cochlear implant for at least a year and have no other significant health issues affecting hearing or comprehension. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the chance to contribute to valuable research that could enhance understanding and outcomes for cochlear implant users.
Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?
The trial does not specify if you need to stop your current medications, but it excludes those taking medications that might interfere with task performance. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.
What prior data suggests that cochlear implants are safe for users?
Research has shown that cochlear implants are generally safe for people with severe hearing loss. These implants reliably help restore hearing. Most recipients do not experience serious side effects. However, some users find listening challenging and more effortful than for those with normal hearing, which can lead to tiredness. Despite this, the implants are not associated with dangerous health risks. Overall, cochlear implants are well-tolerated and improve hearing for many individuals.12345
Why are researchers excited about this trial?
Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores how cochlear implants can impact listening effort in users. Unlike traditional hearing aids that amplify sound, cochlear implants bypass damaged parts of the ear and directly stimulate the auditory nerve, which can be especially beneficial for those with severe hearing loss. This trial also utilizes innovative pupillometry measurements to assess the cognitive load of listening, providing deeper insights into how cochlear implant users process speech compared to normal-hearing individuals. By understanding these dynamics, researchers aim to improve the design and functionality of cochlear implants, potentially enhancing the listening experience for users.
What evidence suggests that cochlear implants are effective for improving speech understanding in cochlear implant users?
Research has shown that cochlear implants can significantly aid people who are deaf in understanding speech in noisy environments. In this trial, cochlear implant users will complete behavioral speech perception and comprehension tasks to assess listening effort. One study found that users found it easier to listen when speakers slowed down. Another study discovered that speech recognition and memory skills can influence the effort required to understand speech. Cochlear implants are the only hearing aids that effectively improve speech understanding in noisy settings. Overall, these devices enhance speech comprehension and reduce mental fatigue during listening.36789
Who Is on the Research Team?
Mario A. Svirsky, PhD
Principal Investigator
NYU Langone Health
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for adults aged 18-80 with normal hearing or who use cochlear implants, without language disorders (except those related to hearing loss for CI users), neurological issues, psychiatric diseases, dementia, or medication that could affect task performance. Non-native speakers of American English and individuals under 18 are excluded.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Baseline Assessment
Comprehensive baseline battery to assess perceptual and cognitive abilities
Experiments
Participants complete six interconnected experiments measuring listening effort and comprehension
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for outcomes related to speech comprehension and cognitive effort
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- Cochlear Implants
Trial Overview
The study tests how well cochlear implant users understand speech by conducting six experiments involving listening effort and discourse comprehension. It uses pupillometry to measure the cognitive load during these tasks in both CI users and people with normal hearing.
How Is the Trial Designed?
2
Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Postlingually deaf adults (age 18-80) with at least one year of CI experience. Participants will complete behavioral speech perception and comprehension tasks with pupillometry measurement.
Normal-hearing adults (age 18-80) listening to degraded speech via 4- and 8-channel vocoders. Participants will complete the same behavioral tasks as CI users but with (or without) acoustically degraded speech simulation.
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
NYU Langone Health
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Collaborator
Citations
Preferences and Listening Efficiency of Adults With Cochlear ...
Slower speaking rate reduces listening effort among listeners with cochlear implants. Ear & Hearing, 42, 584–595. [DOI] [PMC free article] ...
Listening Effort in Cochlear Implant Users: The Effect of ...
This study aimed to evaluate the effect of speech recognition performance, working memory capacity (WMC), and a noise reduction algorithm (NRA) on listening ...
NCT03212924 | Listening Effort in Cochlear Implant Users
The present study is a "pilot" aiming to evaluate listening effort for cochlear implant users. The listening effort is measured with pupillometry, by monitoring ...
4.
frontiersin.org
frontiersin.org/journals/audiology-and-otology/articles/10.3389/fauot.2024.1369812/fullAuditory listening effort and reaction time: a comparative ...
Cochlear implant (CI) provision has been shown to be the only hearing rehabilitation option that can improve speech perception in noise and ...
Systematic Review of Auditory Training Outcomes in Adult ...
Systematic review of auditory training outcomes in adult cochlear implant recipients and meta-analysis of outcomes.
Listening effort and fatigue among cochlear implant users
24 studies were included and suggests that CI users experience higher levels of listening effort when compared to normal hearing controls.
Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data (SSED)
Cochlear implantation is considered a reliable and safe procedure to restore auditory input in patients with bilateral moderate-to-profound ...
8.
journals.lww.com
journals.lww.com/ear-hearing/fulltext/2021/05000/slower_speaking_rate_reduces_listening_effort.10.aspxSlower Speaking Rate Reduces Listening Effort Among...
Slower Speaking Rate Reduces Listening Effort Among Listeners With Cochlear Implants. Winn, Matthew B.; Teece, Katherine H. Author Information.
Safety and outcomes of cochlear implantation in the elderly
Elderly patients with hearing loss may face unique issues related to listening effort and attention. Tun et al. (2009) suggest that older adults require ...
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