supplementing hearing aids with computerized auditory training

Conditions: Hearing Loss

Summary: the study is designed to examine the effectiveness of a computer-based auditory training program to improve the benefits received by individuals who wear hearing aids. the study will involve 3 groups - a computer-based training group, an active listening group which will involve listening to books on cd, and a placebo group that receives no additional treatment.

this proposed study is a multi-site, single-masked (blinded), randomized controlled, parallel group clinical trial to assess the effectiveness of an at home pc-based auditory training as a supplement to standard-of-care hearing-aid intervention in veterans treated for hearing loss, with or without previous hearing-aid experience. the participants will be assigned randomly to one of three groups, with hearing-aid use stratified within the groups: (1) group 1, ha+at, in which the participants will receive standard-of-care hearing-aid intervention (ha) and complete the four-week lace auditory training program (at); (2) group 2, ha, with the participants receiving only standard-of-care hearing-aid intervention (ha); and (3) group 3, ha+dl, in which the participants will receive standard-of-care hearing-aid intervention (ha) and complete four-weeks of placebo auditory training, consisting of directed listening (dl) to books-on-tape. the participants in each group will attend four test sessions. during session 1 the informed consent process will be completed, baseline assessments will be made to ensure that the participants meet the study inclusion criteria (page 52), testing of predictor variables (page 57-58) will be completed, and all hearing aids will be assessed for correct functionality (page 53). the participants then will be assigned randomly to a study group. session 2 will occur four weeks after session 1. during session 2, baseline performance on the outcome measures will be assessed (page 54-57), as will performance on the predictor variables. following testing, the participants in groups 1 and 3 will receive training in the use of the at or dl programs. session 3 will occur at the end of the 4-week experimental training period. during session 3 all participants will be retested on the outcome measures to assess short-term intervention outcomes. during session 4, which will occur at seven-months post-study enrollment (i.e., six-months post training completion for groups 1 and 3), all participants will be retested on all outcome measures to examine the long-term outcomes. in sessions 2-4, the stability of hearing-aid function will be assessed through electroacoustic measures.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: 1. adult onset hearing loss, 2. english as the first language, 3. bilateral, symmetric, sensorineural hearing loss, 4. average audiometric thresholds for 500, 1000, and 2000 hz less than 50-db hl in either ear, 5. aided speech recognition in quiet of 40% binaurally, 6. appropriate cognitive skills assessed using the mini mental state exam (folstein et al., 1975) with age/education norms (crum et al., 1993), 7. adequate vision to participate in the study as determined with the smith-kettlewell institute low luminance (skill) card, 8. eligible for va-issued hearing aids. exclusion criteria: known neurological, psychiatric disorders, or co-morbid diseases that would prevent completion of the study as determined by chart review,

Keywords: auditory perception rehabilitation of hearing impaired