BEARS Training Package to Maximise Hearing Abilities in Older Children and Teenagers With Bilateral Cochlear Implants

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust384 enrolled

Overview

The goal of the BEARS clinical trial is to determine whether using the directional listening training delivered via the BEARS training package for 3-months alongside usual care compared to only receiving usual care improves speech-in-noise perception, hearing experiences, vocabulary and quality of life and reduces listening effort in young people between 8-16 years old (inclusive) with two cochlear implants. The participants will complete hearing assessments and questionnaires before completing the 3-month intervention. They will be followed up for the next 9-months through online and in-person appointments.

Deafness is the most frequent human sensory deficit. Cochlear implantation is the primary intervention. Currently over 6000 people have bilateral cochlear implants in the United Kingdom, most of these are children. Two implants are supposed to provide better access to sound, but it is challenging to interpret and integrate what is heard from both sides. Our 'Living with cochlear implants' Patient and Public Involvement group reported that everyday communication is challenging and tiring, with extra effort required to integrate information from two ears, especially in noise. They reported that current rehabilitation techniques are not engaging, or appropriate to their lifestyles. To address these issues, we have developed a set of virtual reality games called BEARS (Both EARS). BEARS trains sound localisation and listening in noise. These are skills required in everyday listening. The aim of this trial is to determine whether using the directional listening training delivered via the BEARS training package for 3-months alongside usual care compared to only receiving usual care improves speech-in-noise perception, hearing experiences, vocabulary and quality of life and reduces listening effort in young people between 8-16 years old (inclusive) with two cochlear implants. The study will be carried out in clinical cochlear implant departments in National Health Service or University hospitals. Participants will be randomly allocated into one of two groups: 1. Receiving the BEARS training package to use for 3-months alongside usual care 2. Continue with usual care The participants will complete hearing assessments and questionnaires before completing the 3-month intervention. They will be followed up for the next 9-months through online and in-person appointments. Participants and clinicians can also consent to qualitative or process evaluation interviews, which are BEARS sub-studies

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Interventions

Both EARS training package (BEARS)OTHER

The BEARS training package comprises of three games addressing different hearing functions: speech-in-noise perception, music listening and sound-source localisation. Each game is based on an audio-visual task performed through a virtual-reality interface. Players are guided through on-screen visual prompts to support the gameplay with feedback given on their performance and progress through levels of increasing difficulty. The BEARS training package design allows for the training to be self-administered, played anywhere and at any time. There is no upper limit to the frequency of use of the BEARS training package, it is advised to play the games for a minimum of 1 hour a week over a minimum of 2x 30-minute sessions, all three games will need to be played.

Usual CareOTHER

This is an annual review appointment with the patient and their clinician. This could be face-to-face, virtual video consultation, questionnaire, or be cochlear remote care checks. As a minimum this review will check the following: Microphone covers changed, Reported or recorded device use, all external and internal equipment working (known through no reported or recorded degradation in hearing ability). During the appointment, the clinician would establish if there were any concerns regarding the cochlear implant functioning and the patient's rehabilitation programme. They will then make any repairs or adjustments to the device and manage additional support and contact as required. Between the annual review appointments patients can attend the implant centre for repair appointments or have spare equipment posted. There is no limit to the level of contact between the patient and the implant centre.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 8 YearsMax age: 16 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Participant is a simultaneous or sequential bilateral cochlear implant user\*, who either has: 1. Congenital severe/profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and have received at least one implant ≤ 36 months of age. 2. Progressive or acquired severe/profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (no age at implant restrictions for these patients) \*(a bilateral CI user is defined as a patient who uses both cochlear implant processors for a minimum of 6-hours per day over a month) 2. Participant has stable programmes (defined as no longer using progressive programmes to work through). 3. Participant has had at least two usual care checks/clinical appointments with stable aided levels (+/- 10 dB across 500Hz-4kHz) and no progressive maps to still work through, if they have had re-implantation of internal implant devices. 4. Participant is aged 8-16 years, inclusive. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Participant (or parent/legal representative) does not speak/understand English sufficiently to undertake assessments. 2. Participant has an intellectual disability at a level that would prevent their ability to understand the trial the intervention or assessment questions. 3. Participant has a comorbid condition impacting ability to participate in the intervention and/or outcome assessment. 4. Participant has an audiological profile impacting ability to participate in the intervention and/or outcome assessments. 5. Participant is actively participating in other trials that may affect hearing outcomes or impact their ability to participate in the intervention. 6. Participant is currently or anticipated to receive treatment and/or intervention that may affect hearing outcomes or adapt implant settings/programming. 7. Participant is refusing to consent to trial activities/protocol. 8. Participant is awaiting reimplantation following device failure or infection. 9. Participant has had any changes to the programmes of either cochlear implant within the last four weeks. 10. Participant has had a change of cochlear implant processor model or upgrade within the last four weeks. 11. Participant is a non-user of one or both implant processors (i.e., must use both processors for a minimum of 6 hours per day over a month). 12. Participant is a fulltime boarder at a boarding school 13. Participant has unresolvable issues found in device checks that render one of the implants unusable. 14. Participant is a female that is pregnant. 15. Participant has a diagnosis of epilepsy or history of seizures of any kind.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Spatial speech in Noise - Virtual Acoustics (SSiN-VA) test outcome

The Primary outcome for the BEARS trial is the difference between the intervention groups in speech-in-noise perception score (% correct overall task) at 3 months, accounting for the participant's baseline score. This is derived from the spatial speech in noise (SSiN-VA) test.

Time frame: Three months

Secondary Outcomes

SSiN-VA test outcome

Speech-in-noise perception score (% correct of the overall task) at twelve months accounting for the baseline score.

Time frame: Twelve months

SSiN-VA test outcome

Relative localisation score (% correct) at three months and at twelve months accounting for the baseline score.