Effects of Cognitive Training on Speech Perception

Aaron Newman

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Hearing Loss; Deafness and Auditory Perception

Treatments: Behavioral: Cognitive training

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02294812

NCIL-HL-CT

Details and patient eligibility

About

In this study, the investigators are testing whether cognitive training can lead to improvements in speech perception for individuals with hearing loss. Individuals will complete 20 hours of cognitive training that is designed to improve cognitive abilities such as short term memory and attention. The investigators predict that cognitive training that improves the cognitive abilities affected by hearing loss will improve speech perception.

Enrollment: 42 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 50+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Able to come to Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for study visits
• Adults (50 years or older) with mild to moderate hearing loss
• Access to an internet-connected device that is able to use Flash media, basic computer skills
• Medically stable participants
• Not currently taking medication that may affect brain function (e.g., anti-anxiety medication)
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision

Exclusion criteria

• Participants with neurological conditions such as epilepsy or concussions will be excluded for safety reasons
• Participants who are not native English speakers (materials used in the study are only in English)
• Participants who are unable to provide consent
• Participants with impaired cognition (assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment)
• Participants with high accuracy on the Speech Perception in Noise task at the second study visit (to eliminate participants who may be performing at ceiling level)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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42 participants in 3 patient groups

Control, cognitive training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in the control arm will receive cognitive training for cognitive abilities not affected by age-related hearing loss.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive training

Experimental, cognitive training

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the experimental arm will receive cognitive training for cognitive abilities affected by age-related hearing loss.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive training

Active Control, crossword training

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group will undergo crossword puzzle training. The purpose of this group is control for any effects that may be due to engaging in cognitive training.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Cognitive training