Remote Auditory Training for Cochlear Implant Users

Overseen By Kaye Dizon, B.Sc.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Disqualifiers: Prelingual hearing loss, Cochlear anomaly, Retro-cochlear origin, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: Unknown

Duration: 12 weeks

40 Participants Needed

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

Multi-channel cochlear implants have been highly successful in restoring speech understanding to individuals with severe-to-profound hearing loss. Optimal programs facilitate access to sound but do not necessarily result in optimal performance. Practiced listening with auditory inputs is required to retrain the brain to hear using a cochlear implant. In some cases exposure to sound in everyday listening is sufficient; however, in others there is a need for the provision of auditory training (AT) by a trained professional. In these cases it is important to have regular visits with a specialist to: 1) facilitate auditory training exercises; 2) work with the family/friends to encourage optimal communication strategies in the home; 3) evaluate and assess achievement of listening goals. This study seeks to evaluate the feasibility of providing auditory training services remotely for patient populations located outside of Toronto. This study also seeks to evaluate interindividual perspectives regarding access and benefits of these services across remote and in person sessions.

Research Team

Kassandra H Kaminskas, M.Cl.Sc.

Principal Investigator

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre - Clinical Audiologist

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with post-lingual hearing loss who are native English speakers, have no cognitive deficits, and can use teleconferencing. They should live over an hour away from the hospital and be willing to attend sessions with a partner. It's not for those with retro-cochlear hearing loss, additional disabilities affecting participation, prelingual hearing loss, or unrealistic expectations about cochlear implants.

Inclusion Criteria

I am willing to bring someone with me to appointments when I can.

You started having trouble hearing after you learned to speak.

I am willing to use video calls for appointments and live more than 1 hour away by car from the hospital.

Exclusion Criteria

You are worried about using technology for video calls.

I lost my hearing before I was two years old.

You have a bone or cochlear issue that could stop the electrode from being inserted properly, as confirmed by medical exams and imaging including MRI.

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive auditory training (AT) sessions either face-to-face or via teleconferencing over the first 3 months following activation of the cochlear implant

12 weeks

Regular visits (in-person or virtual)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment through performance measures and questionnaires

2 years

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Auditory Training
• Teleconferencing

Trial Overview The study tests if auditory training (AT) services via teleconference are feasible for patients far from Toronto. It involves regular remote sessions with professionals to improve listening skills using cochlear implants and assesses patient perspectives on these services compared to in-person visits.

Participant Groups

Group I: Remote AT services Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Experimental group will consist of participants who access auditory therapy services from a remote location. Services will be conducted with this group via teleconferencing over the Ontario Health Network.

Group II: In House AT Active Control 1 Intervention

This group will receive auditory therapy services face-to-face at the treatment site.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre

Lead Sponsor

Trials

693

Recruited

1,569,000+