Interventions for Cochlear Implant Users

SS
Overseen BySaumil Shah
Age: 18+
Sex: Any
Trial Phase: Academic
Sponsor: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
No Placebo GroupAll trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The rationale is that only through understanding how individual Cochlear Implant (CI) patients respond to interventions investigators further develop precision-medicine approaches to optimize outcomes. In the proposed research study to investigate the hypotheses, investigators will address two Specific Aims:

Specific Aim #1: Define the auditory (bottom-up), cognitive-linguistic (top-down), and functional neuroimaging profiles of adult CI users. Investigators will enroll experienced CI users (\> 6 months of CI use).

Specific Aim #2: Determine the feasibility of "auditory" (bottom-up) and "cognitive" (top-down) interventions to improve speech processing in adult CI users.

The main hypothesis is that the two interventions are feasible. Investigators also hypothesize that our study protocol will detect the variance in auditory processing profiles and that investigators will show promise in improving both speech processing (using speech recognition and Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) responses)) and real-world functioning (using patient-reported measures), compared with no intervention.

Additional hypotheses to be explored are that baseline profile (as defined in Aim #1) will impact the magnitude of participants' responses to the interventions, as will order of interventions (Auditory-Cognitive vs. Cognitive-Auditory, AC vs CA).

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults who have been using a cochlear implant for more than 6 months. Participants should be experienced CI users and able to take part in hearing and cognitive tests.

Inclusion Criteria

I am between 18 and 95 years old.
Native language is American English
Have one or two CIs from any of the three FDA-approved CI manufacturers (Cochlear Americas, Advanced Bionics, MED-EL)
See 1 more

Exclusion Criteria

Score 24 or below on a visual Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) to rule out dementia
Known diagnosis of dementia
I am under 18 years old.
See 2 more

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants undergo auditory, cognitive-linguistic, and functional neuroimaging assessments

2 weeks
1 visit (in-person)

Intervention

Participants receive either auditory or cognitive training, followed by crossover to the other intervention

8 weeks
4 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for speech processing improvements and quality of life outcomes

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Trial Overview

The study compares two types of training: one focused on listening skills first, then thinking skills (AC group), and the other with the order reversed (CA group). The goal is to see which approach better improves speech understanding in adult cochlear implant users.

How Is the Trial Designed?

3

Treatment groups

Active Control

Group I: Group 1 - Auditory Intervention (AC)Active Control2 Interventions
Group II: Group 2 - Cognitive Intervention (CA)Active Control2 Interventions
Group III: Group 3 - ControlActive Control1 Intervention

Find a Clinic Near You

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials
922
Recruited
939,000+