NCT03157492

Aural Rehabilitation for Cochlear Implant Users Via Telerehab Technology

Enhanced Aural Rehabilitation for Cochlear Implant Users Via Telerehab Technology

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 20 (actual)
• Sponsor: Gallaudet University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

This study evaluates the benefits of short-term training via telehealth for post-lingually deafened adult cochlear implant users. Half the participants will receive aural rehabilitation and the other half cognitive training. The hypothesis is that short-term aural rehabilitation via telerehab technology will improve outcomes for post-lingually deafened cochlear implant users

Detailed description

Aural rehabilitation training (AR) has been demonstrated to improve outcomes for adult cochlear implant users. There are both financial and non-financial barriers to AR service delivery including accessibility (mobility, distance and transportation problems), accommodation (time off work impossible, caring for family) and availability (limited providers in rural areas, financial constraints, and lack of transportation. In this study the investigators will measure the impact of telerehab delivery on optimizing speech recognition, communication function, goals, social participation and hearing handicap. Twenty-four participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: aural rehabilitation (AR) and cognitive training (CT). Participants will complete six 90-minute treatment sessions in their home or office via a telerehab platform. Participants will come to a center for three 90-minute assessment sessions: pre-treatment, 1 week, and 2 months post-treatment.

Conditions

• Hearing Loss
• Deafness

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Aural Rehabilitation Group	Participants will complete sessions in their home or office via the internet. Sessions will include listening activities, informational counseling and communication strategies training. Three assessment appointments are required. The goal is to evaluate the benefit of training on performance with a cochlear implant.
BEHAVIORAL	Cognitive Training Group	The Cognitive Training Group will receive six 90-minute sessions including training exercises (Ken-Ken, Sudoku, Crosswords, Word Search, Spot the Difference) to improve speed and accuracy. Three assessment sessions are also required.

Timeline

• Start date: 2017-05-02
• Primary completion: 2021-10-13
• Completion: 2021-10-13
• First posted: 2017-05-17
• Last updated: 2021-10-14

Locations

5 sites across 1 country: United States