NCT04207866

Auditory Training Via Teleconference

Evaluation of Teleconferencing in the Provision of Auditory Training Services

• Status: Unknown
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

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.

Detailed description

Individuals with severe-to-profound hearing impairment, who no longer benefit from hearing aids, are candidates for cochlear implantation. In many cases these devices provide access to sound and are successful in restoring speech understanding; however, there are instances where individuals might need additional assistance in the form of auditory training (AT). This study will involve comparison of two groups of individuals. Participants will be randomly assigned to the standard of care group OR the remote care group. Individuals who meet eligibility criteria will be contacted to assess their willingness to participate in additional auditory training (AT) sessions. These sessions will be conducted either face-to-face or via the Ontario Telehealth network as per random assignment. AT sessions will occur over the first 3 months following activation of the cochlear implant. Outcomes will be assessed using performance measures and questionnaires.

Conditions

• Hearing Impairment, Sensorineural
• Auditory; Nerve
• Cochlear Implants
• Rehabilitation

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Teleconferencing	Use of video/audio stream to provide auditory training at a remote site.
OTHER	Auditory training services	Participants will engage in 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. Auditory training assess/reviews skills associated with but not necessarily limited to: 1) developing strategies to repair communication breakdowns; 2) listening in quiet; 3) listening in noise; 4) listening to a degraded signal.

Timeline

• Start date: 2022-06-01
• Primary completion: 2023-01-01
• Completion: 2025-01-01
• First posted: 2019-12-23
• Last updated: 2022-05-09

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Canada