Evaluating an application for auditory-cognitive training
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Evaluating a gaming application for auditory-cognitive training, developed through participatory design.
IRAS ID
269498
Contact name
Lorenzo Picinali
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London and Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
AIMS
This project will evaluate the effects of a newly designed auditory-cognitive training gaming application on hearing in noise, cognitive ability and quality of life.BACKGROUND
Age-related hearing loss was recently found to be the biggest potentially modifiable factor in preventable dementias. There are 850,000 people living in the UK with dementia. This is expected to increase to over 2 million people by 2050. There is no cure for dementia, so the focus should be on early detection and prevention.Further research is needed on the relationship between hearing loss and dementia. Alternative treatment of hearing loss, other than hearing aids, may help prevent early symptoms of dementia. 1 in 6 people have a hearing loss in the UK and it takes the average person 10 years before seeking help. There is, therefore a large group of people that could benefit from a preventative application that provides low-cost and simple training at home for hearing, memory and attention.
DESIGN This is the evaluation stage of this project, having already undergone a collaborative design phase. Participants who do not wear hearing aids or have a formal dementia diagnosis, but with concerns over their hearing and memory will be recruited from NHS clinics, primary care and voluntary research organisations. Participants will be allocated to a training group or control group. The training group will be required to play the training application at home over a 12-week training period, with a 4-week follow-up. Outcome measures for hearing in noise, cognition and quality of life will be completed every 4-weeks for all participants. An exit interview and usability questionnaires will be completed for the training group at the end of the study. This study is part of a PhD project, funded by the Dyson School of Design Engineering, Imperial College London.
REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/LO/1662
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion