1260 Participants Needed

Auditory Training for Hearing Loss

Recruiting at 2 trial locations
AC
Overseen ByAudrey Carrillo, M.A.
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Northeastern University
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Trial Summary

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you have a medical illness requiring treatment during the study, you may be excluded from participating.

What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment Auditory Training for hearing loss?

Research shows that auditory training, which involves active listening exercises, can help improve speech perception and other listening skills in people with hearing loss. Studies suggest it can be a useful tool in auditory rehabilitation, although the quality of evidence varies and more high-quality research is needed.12345

Is auditory training safe for humans?

The available research does not report any specific safety concerns related to auditory training for hearing loss, but the quality of studies is generally low to moderate, and more high-quality research is needed to confirm its safety.23678

How does auditory training differ from other treatments for hearing loss?

Auditory training is unique because it involves active listening exercises to improve hearing skills, unlike hearing aids that only amplify sound. It can be done using computer programs or apps, helping the brain reorganize to better recognize sounds, especially in noisy environments.12369

What is the purpose of this trial?

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn how Auditory Training (AT) may help people better understand speech in noisy environments. As people get older, it becomes harder for them to hear speech clearly when there is background noise. This can be frustrating, and it can affect their independence and quality of life. AT is often used to support people with and without hearing loss, especially when a person is not a good candidate for a hearing aid or when amplification from a hearing aid does not improve performance.The investigators want to gather reliable data to understand how AT works and what affects its success.The main questions the trial aims to answer are:* How do different types of sounds influence the effectiveness of auditory training?* Which auditory training approaches are most successful in improving speech understanding?* How do personal traits impact the results of auditory training?The investigators will study a large and diverse group of 1,260 participants, including both young and older adults, to evaluate various auditory training approaches.You will:* Take part in auditory training sessions that include different types of auditory tasks.* Complete tests that measure how well they understand speech in both quiet and noisy settings.* Complete surveys on personal data like demographics, hearing challenges and other factors to help researchers understand what might influence training results.The investigators will measure and compare the results of these approaches to find out which ones are most effective. This could help people who are at risk of cognitive decline, like those at risk for Alzheimer's disease.

Research Team

AS

Aaron Seitz, PhD

Principal Investigator

Northeastern University

TK

Tess Koerner, PhD

Principal Investigator

Oregon Health and Science University

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for individuals with hearing loss, including both young and older adults. Participants will engage in auditory training to improve speech understanding in noise. They must be willing to undergo various auditory tasks, tests, and surveys. Specific eligibility details are not provided but typically include factors like age range and hearing loss severity.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 50-85, with normal hearing for my age and no signs of dementia.
No self-reported auditory difficulties and normal or near-normal hearing sensitivity as measured by SRTs

Exclusion Criteria

I have been diagnosed with dementia or another brain condition.
My vision or hearing does not limit my ability to learn new things.
I plan to travel for more than a week during the study.
See 9 more

Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Auditory Training

Participants take part in auditory training sessions that include different types of auditory tasks

5 weeks
Multiple sessions (in-person)

Testing

Participants complete tests to measure speech understanding in quiet and noisy settings

1 week
3 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after training

4 weeks
1 visit (in-person)

Treatment Details

Interventions

  • Auditory Training
Trial Overview The study is testing different auditory training methods: STM Training, Speech Training, Mixed Training, Gamified Training, Foraging Training. It aims to determine which sounds and approaches enhance speech comprehension in noisy environments and how personal traits affect outcomes.
Participant Groups
6Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Active Control
Group I: Speech TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: STM TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group III: Mixed TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group IV: Gamified TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group V: Foraging TrainingExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group VI: Business As UsualActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Northeastern University

Lead Sponsor

Trials
103
Recruited
72,600+

University of California, Riverside

Collaborator

Trials
33
Recruited
14,400+

Oregon Health and Science University

Collaborator

Trials
1,024
Recruited
7,420,000+

Findings from Research

Intensive auditory training (AT) has been shown to improve communication abilities in individuals with mild to moderately severe hearing impairment, with many studies reporting benefits in untrained speech perception tasks after AT.
Combining auditory training with hearing aids appears to enhance the effectiveness of auditory rehabilitation, but the long-term sustainability of these benefits remains unclear and requires further investigation.
Auditory Training Supports Auditory Rehabilitation: A State-of-the-Art Review.Stropahl, M., Besser, J., Launer, S.[2021]
A review of studies on auditory training for older adults with hearing loss since 2013 found that most studies had low to moderate quality, highlighting issues like lack of blinding, control groups, and small sample sizes.
The effectiveness of auditory training remains uncertain, indicating a need for future high-quality randomized controlled trials to better assess long-term outcomes and various measures of effectiveness.
Methodological Considerations for Auditory Training Interventions for Adults With Hearing Loss: A Rapid Review.Gaeta, L., Stark, RK., Ofili, E.[2021]
Auditory training using computer-based methods showed improvements in specific tasks for adults with hearing loss, with 9 out of 10 studies reporting positive outcomes for trained tasks.
However, while some general improvements in untrained speech intelligibility and cognition were noted, these were small and not consistent, indicating that the current evidence for the effectiveness of this intervention is not strong enough to guide clinical practice.
Efficacy of individual computer-based auditory training for people with hearing loss: a systematic review of the evidence.Henshaw, H., Ferguson, MA.[2022]

References

Auditory Training Supports Auditory Rehabilitation: A State-of-the-Art Review. [2021]
Methodological Considerations for Auditory Training Interventions for Adults With Hearing Loss: A Rapid Review. [2021]
Efficacy of individual computer-based auditory training for people with hearing loss: a systematic review of the evidence. [2022]
Effects of auditory training in individuals with high-frequency hearing loss. [2022]
Clinical Effectiveness of an At-Home Auditory Training Program: A Randomized Controlled Trial. [2020]
Options for Auditory Training for Adults with Hearing Loss. [2022]
Auditory Integration Training: One Clinician's View. [2019]
The effects of dosage and duration of auditory training for older adults with hearing impairment. [2021]
9.Russia (Federation)pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
[The effectiveness of the auditory training of the subjects presenting with partial deafness following cochlear implantation as reported by the patients and speech therapists]. [2014]
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