AudCog-HI 1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Auditory Cognition in Electrical Hearing
IRAS ID
311586
Contact name
Tim Griffiths
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Newcastle University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study examines whether simple measures of how the brain processes sounds predict real-world listening success in Cochlear Implant (CI) Users. Specifically, we test whether measures of auditory grouping (how we group sounds into auditory objects) predict the success of detecting speech in background noise.
This study is important because there is now increasing evidence to suggest that central sound processing in the brain underlie the variation in real-world listening success in normal listeners, in addition to detection of sounds in the ear. We want to investigate if this also applies to CI Users.
This study will be relevant clinically because there is enormous variability in real-world listening success in CI Users. Conventionally, this variation has been related to demographics and hearing history factors (such as pre-implant hearing ability and duration of deafness). However, these factors are limited in their ability to predict outcome in individual patients. The measures tested in this study can facilitate developing specific tools that better predict outcomes in individual patients and better track rehabilitation after implantation.
Healthy adult participants with Cochlear Implants will be eligible for this study. Participants will undergo several computer-based listening tests conducted at the Auditory Cognition Group research laboratory in Newcastle. These test how well participants can detect speech in background noise, and statistically generated sound samples from background noise. They will also undergo a test of nonverbal abstract problem solving. All tests are non-invasive and do not involve imaging. The whole session should last around 2 hours. Some participants will be invited to attend for an optional second session a few months after the first, which will be a repeat of the first. Data from auditory testing and Pure-Tone-Audiometry data from participant care records will be analysed to investigate whether central measures of auditory grouping predict speech-in-noise ability.
REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/PR/1684
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion