iPad Digit Triplet Test in adults with cochlear implants

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Evaluation of a home hearing test for adults using cochlear implants: the iPad Digit Triplet Test

• IRAS ID

  230720

• Contact name

  Helen Cullington

• Contact email

  hec@isvr.soton.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Southampton

• Duration of Study in the UK

  0 years, 3 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  Cochlear implants provide access to sound for severely to profoundly deaf people. Many resources are required to provide post-operative care to patients who receive a cochlear implant. The implant service commits to lifetime follow-up, which may be up to 100 years for a baby. The patient commits to regular adjustment and rehabilitation appointments in the first year and annual follow-up appointments thereafter. These services are provided at specialist tertiary centres which may be several hours away from the patient’s home necessitating travelling expense, time off work and family disruption. Currently UK implant centres review patients on a clinician-led schedule; this means that review appointments can occur that provide little benefit to the patient. Making this care pathway patient-centred instead will provide a more efficient service and allow more timely identification of issues.
  
  We completed a study last year (15/NW/0860) where adults with implants were given remote care tools to allow them to check their implant, do a hearing test and have access to a personalised online support tool. The home hearing test was successful and popular. As a result of this, our centre - the University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service - has decided to roll out a home hearing test clinically. We have made a new version of the hearing test that runs on an iPad, and before we offer it to all patients, we would like to evaluate it in a small sample in order to assess its feasibility, reliability, patient acceptance and compliance. Remote care will take place in the patient’s home. This is making one addition to the usual care of people with cochlear implants:
  1. adding a home hearing test resource

• REC name

  Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  17/YH/0307

• Date of REC Opinion

  16 Oct 2017

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion