Internet-delivered ACT for Treating the Psychological Effects of Hearing Loss

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Randomized trial comparing internet-delivered ACT with therapist support against waiting list for persons with hearing loss and comorbid psychological distress

Detailed Description
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Hearing loss is the most common sensory disability in the world. Hearing loss is an auditory disability which affects not only speech recognition, but also the ability to recognize, locate and identify sounds in one's environment. Today there are a variety of studies investigating the relationship between hearing loss and mental health. For example, there are studies showing that hearing loss can lead to depression, somatization, social isolation, worrying or anxiety, loneliness, smaller social networks, lower self-efficacy, sensitivity to stress, burnout, and impaired sleep quality and quality of life in comparison with people with normal hearing. Initial results from other studies indicate that acceptance may be of importance, as it in turn can lead to increased help-seeking.To avoid prolonged stress and a healthy self-efficacy could contribute to greater well-being of people with hearing loss. This is the first study to use ACT to improve psychological health in people with hearing loss through the process of psychological flexibility. The treatment is eight weeks long and internet delivered through self-help texts with weekly therapist support.

Official Title
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Internet-delivered ACT for Treating the Psychological Effects of Hearing Loss

Conditions
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Hearing Loss

Intervention / Treatment
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* Behavioral: Internet-delivered ACT


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: HHIE-S score over 8 Indication of comorbid psychological suffering/distress (defined as total score above 0 on PHQ9/GAD7 or below 1sd on QOLI) Exclusion Criteria: No computer with internet connection Unability to understand written content Incomplete screening procedure A health condition that needs immediate care

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 110 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Internet-delivered ACT<br>Guided Internet-delivered Acceptance and commitment therapy for 8 weeks | Behavioral: Internet-delivered ACT<br>* Therapist-guided Internet-delivered ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy) for 8 weeks<br>|
| No Intervention: Wait list control<br>No treatment during 8 weeks | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Hearing Handicap Inventory for Elderly-Screening, change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Patient Health Questionnaire Depression 9 (PHQ9), change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 
| Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD7), change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 
| Quality of Life Inventory (QOLI), change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 
| Hearing Acceptance Questionnaire (HAQ), change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 
| Hearing Self-Efficacy (HSE), change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 
| Perceived Stress Scale-4 (PSS-4), change between pre and post treatment |  | through study completion, an average of 8 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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psychological effects