Comparison of auditory and visual training for adult cochlear implant users
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN98523729 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN98523729 |
| Protocol serial number | XR3.3.4(1) |
| Sponsor | HEARing Cooperative Research Centre |
| Funders | HEARing Cooperative Research Centre, Macquarie University |
- Submission date
- 14/09/2017
- Registration date
- 20/09/2017
- Last edited
- 01/10/2021
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Completed
- Condition category
- Ear, Nose and Throat
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Auditory training effects on speech recognition are inconsistent amongst adult cochlear implant users. Identifying the specific aspects of “listening” that are being targeted by training may further the understanding of this variance. Additionally, factors such as how individual characteristics interact with training outcomes and if training-induced changes influence social engagement and quality of life for hearing impaired individuals need to be addressed. This may enable us to customise rehabilitation options for cochlear implant users. The aim of this study is to compare whether auditory-verbal training leads to greater changes than visual-verbal training on short- and long-term, trained and untrained measures of listening and cognitive abilities in adult CI users.
Who can participate?
Adults aged 18 and older with over one year of cochlear implant experience.
What does the study involve?
Participants are randomly assigned to one of two groups. Individuals in both groups undertake two computer-based training programs at home: an auditory training and a visual training, however each group receives these in a different order. Participants are asked to undertake each training program for approximately 15 minutes per day, five days weekly for six weeks. Participants are assessed seven times throughout the study to assess for changes in auditory and cognitive abilities as well as self-perceived listening and quality of life.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants may benefit from the training programs in this study by experiencing improvement in their listening abilities. Participants may find the testing sessions tiring and may present psychological distress, such as frustration and anxiety, during training and assessment tasks.
Where is the study run from?
This study is being run from Macquarie University (Australia) and takes place in 3 centres: Macquarie University, Fiona Stanley Hospital, the HEARing Cooperative Research Centre (Australia).
When is study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
January 2015 to July 2018
Who is funding the study?
The HEARing Cooperative Research Centre and Macquarie University (Australia)
Who is the main contact?
Dr Mariana Reis
marianacpdosreis@gmail.com
Contact information
Scientific
Room G.330, Ground Floor
16 University Avenue
The Australian Hearing Hub
Macquarie University
Sydney
2109
Australia
 ORCID ID |
0000-0003-3066-2331 |
|---|
Study information
| Primary study design | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Study design | Multicentre randomised crossover design |
| Secondary study design | Randomised cross over trial |
| Study type | Participant information sheet |
| Scientific title | Comparison of computer-based auditory and non-auditory training for adult cochlear implant recipients |
| Study objectives | Research question: Does computer-based auditory-verbal training lead to greater changes than visual-verbal training on short- and long-term, trained and untrained measures of listening abilities in adult cochlear implant users? Hypothesis: Verbal-based training leads to greater changes in trained and untrained measures of listening abilities when presented in the auditory mode compared to the visual mode, and these changes are maintained weeks after the training is completed. |
| Ethics approval(s) | Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee, 01/04/2015, ref: Protocol number: 201500069 The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee, 17/05/2017, ref: Protocol number: 17/1327H |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Hearing loss, adult cochlear implant users |
| Intervention | As participants enrolled in the study, they received participant identification codes in chronological order and were allocated to a treatment order according to that specified for their code in a randomisation list pre-generated through www.randomization.com. All participants undertake six weeks of auditory training and six weeks of visual training. The order in which participants receive each intervention is randomised. Participants are asked to use each programme once a day, five times per week during six weeks across all study sites (a total of 30 sessions). Training is individual, computer-based and takes place in the participants’ home. Software interface and protocol for both programs were developed so their looks of and interaction needs were as similar as possible. At the beginning of each training session, participants are asked to log how many hours they slept in the previous night as well as how they were feeling at the moment of the session (a five-point Likert scale from with smileys ranging from “very happy” to “very sad”), which are also saved to the sessions’ results. The auditory training consists of monosyllabic words and sentences spoken by a female and male speaker with background babble noise used as a masker. The visual training consists of monosyllabic words and sentences written on the screen with a series of vertical bars masking the text. Each training program session consists of a module of 25 sentences and two modules of 25 monosyllabic words (divided by initial and final consonants). Participants are asked to identify the word/sentence that they heard/seen. Difficulty for both programs is modulated by an adaptive protocol. That is, for each three stimuli correctly identified, the level of the masker (noise level or width of the vertical bars) is increased. If there is one incorrect answer, the level of masker difficulty would decrease (level of noise/width of bars). All tasks are closed-set, where participants are given three different alternatives to choose from. Feedback is provided whether a response is correct or incorrect. When a response is incorrect, participants are presented with the option they chosen as well as the correct option for that trial. At the end of each module participants are informed the number of trials correctly identified. The programs have administrator features, which enables study investigators to track participants’ results as well as allowing users to have access to only one program, both or any. After completing 30 sessions participants are prevented from assessing the training program and are asked to attend a follow-up session at the investigation site. Following this, a three-month wash out period takes place for the first site (Macquarie University), whereas at the two other sites (HEARing Cooperative Research Centre and Fiona Stanley Hospital) the wash out period is one month. Participants return to the investigational site for assessment after the wash out period twice before receiving the second training program. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure(s) |
Speech recognition scores are assessed through BKB sentences at fixed signal to noise ratios (SNRs) and consonant-nucleus-consonant (CNC) words at seven timepoints: |
| Key secondary outcome measure(s) |
1. Behavioural measures of spectral resolution is measured using spectral-temporally modulated ripple test |
| Completion date | 01/03/2018 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | Patient |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 18 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Target sample size at registration | 36 |
| Total final enrolment | 26 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Adults aged 18 and older 2. Uni- or bilateral cochlear implant users 3. At least one year of cochlear implant experience 4. Competent English speakers 5. Able to use a computer |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Significant neurological or cognitive impairment 2. Significant visual impairment |
| Date of first enrolment | 01/03/2016 |
| Date of final enrolment | 28/07/2017 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Australia
Study participating centres
The Australian Hearing Hub
Macquarie University NSW
Sydney
2109
Australia
Audiology Service
Murdoch WA
Perth
6150
Australia
Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, University of Melbourne
Carlton VIC
Melbourne
3053
Australia
Results and Publications
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | No |
|---|---|
| IPD sharing plan summary | Data sharing statement to be made available at a later date |
| IPD sharing plan | The data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date. |
Study outputs
| Output type | Details | Date created | Date added | Peer reviewed? | Patient-facing? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Results article | 30/09/2021 | 01/10/2021 | Yes | No | |
| Participant information sheet | Participant information sheet | 11/11/2025 | 11/11/2025 | No | Yes |
Editorial Notes
01/10/2021: The following changes have been made:
1. Publication reference added.
2. The study contact has been updated and the plain English summary has been updated accordingly.
3. The condition has been changed from "Adult cochlear implant users" to "Hearing loss, adult cochlear implant users".
26/03/2019: The total final enrollment was added.
26/10/2017: Internal review.
