Combining electric and acoustic hearing for better outcomes in children and adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the benefits of combined Electric and Acoustic Stimulation (EAS) in children and adults with cochlear implants. It aims to understand how this approach can improve speech understanding and spatial hearing by utilizing both electric and acoustic signals in the same ear. Participants will include both children and adults with varying degrees of hearing loss, and the study will assess their auditory processing abilities through behavioral and objective measures. The findings are expected to enhance the understanding of cochlear implant functionality and inform audiological management for EAS candidates.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Children aged 5 to 17 years of age with either normal hearing (n=40) or at least 1 cochlear implant (CI) and binaural low-frequency acoustic hearing (n=40); adults aged 18+ years with either normal hearing (n=40) or at least 1 CI and binaural low-frequency acoustic hearing (n=40).
2. Experimental participants must have at least one CI and bilateral mild to severe sensorineural hearing loss For CI participants, audiometric thresholds in the non-CI ear must be consistent with at least a mild sensorineural hearing loss; that is, the investigators will not be enrolling participants with single-sided deafness (SSD) For CI participants, unaided audiometric thresholds must be less than or equal to 80 dB HL for 125 and 250 Hz, in both ears.
3. Nonverbal cognitive abilities within the typical range for all participants; adult participants must also pass cognitive screening via Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA or HI-MoCA).
4. No confounding diagnosis such as autism, auditory neuropathy, neurological disorder, or general cognitive impairment.
5. Willingness to use EAS technology in the implanted ear(s) to be verified via data logging from cochlear implant and hearing aid software.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Nonverbal intelligence standard score \< 85 (for any participant).
2. MoCA or HI-MoCA score \< 26 for adult participants.

Where it's running

• Hearts for Hearing
  Edmond, Oklahoma, United States Recruiting
• University Of Texas at Austin
  Austin, Texas, United States Recruiting
• University Of Wisconsin Madison
  Madison, Wisconsin, United States Recruiting
• Vanderbilt University Medical Center
  Nashville, Tennessee, United States Completed

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: René H Gifford, PhD — Hearts for Hearing
• Study coordinator: René Gifford, PhD
• Email: rene.gifford@heartsforhearing.org
• Phone: (405) 548-4300

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

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• Hearing and Brain Development in Children and Teens

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• Web-based auditory training with easy versus hard task settings to improve speech and listening

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  Recruiting University of Nottingham · Nottingham, Nottinghamshire · NCT07506408

• Long-term hearing and speech outcomes after cochlear implants

  This project will see if cochlear implants improve hearing, speech understanding, and quality of life in Mandarin-speaking patients of all ages before and after surgery.

  Recruiting Eye & ENT Hospital of Fudan University · Shanghai · NCT07380269

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.