Aural Rehabilitation for Cochlear Implant Users Via Telerehab Technology

Gallaudet University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Hearing Loss; Deafness

Treatments: Behavioral: Aural Rehabilitation Group; Behavioral: Cognitive Training Group

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03157492

2508

90RE5020 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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

Full 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.

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Speech Tracking rate of at least 20 words per minute
• Sentence recognition scores (CasperSent) between 10% and 85%
• Passing score on cognitive screener (Callahan et al., 2002)

Exclusion criteria

• Less than 18 years of age
• Pre-lingually deafened
• Prior Aural Rehabilitation with cochlear implant
• Greater than three years post-activation of CI

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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20 participants in 2 patient groups

Aural Rehabilitation Group

Experimental group

Description:

The AR Group will receive six 90-minute sessions including auditory training, informational counseling, and communication strategies.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Aural Rehabilitation Group

Cognitive Training Group

Sham Comparator group

Description:

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.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive Training Group