Mild-to-moderate hearing loss Ear, Nose and Throat
Conditions
Interventions
MMHL participants will be allocated to receive a study assisted listening device (ALD) OR no ALD. Any existing experienced users of ALDs will be placed in the ALD group. The remaining participants rec
Sponsors
Lancaster University
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
6 Years to 11 Years
Inclusion criteria
Inclusion criteria: 1. Aged 6-11 years old 2. With fluency in English 3. Who possess instructional comprehension, confirmed by their audiologist 4. At least one caregiver with English fluency for instructional comprehension for research visits at Lancaster University 5. Attending mainstream schools 6. Be able to wear their hair loose to enable us to access strands of natural hair and their scalp during fNIRS and EEG recordings MMHL participants: 1. With bilateral/symmetrical sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) 2. With a minimum of one year of hearing aid experience, confirmed by their audiologist and previous clinic notes 3. With a history of consistent hearing aid usage (minimum 6h/day) The participants may be multilingual, as long as both the child and at least one caregiver understand English to ensure informed consent, assent, and instructional comprehension. However, an interpreter can be utilised at audiology clinics when necessary to support families.
Exclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria: 1. Medical diagnosis of neurological, psychiatric, and/or attention deficits 2. History of ear surgeries Further exclusion criterion for hearing children (control participants) only: 3. Medical diagnosis of learning, language, developmental delays, or hearing difficulties/disorders 4. Hearing loss of mild, moderate, severe, or profound degree (above 20 dB HL at standard frequencies)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Social behavioural signs of listening measured using eye-tracking to assess speech-reading; motion-tracking to assess synchronised head tilts and distance between talkers at Research Visit 1: Within four to six weeks after their device fitting;Synchronisation of neural activity relative to listening measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy to assess interbrain synchronicity at Research Visit 1: Within four to six weeks after their device fitting | — |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| 1. Language development measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-5 and Test of Child Speechreading at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 2. Classroom listening skills measured using the Vanderbilt Classroom Listening Assessment Survey and Communication Supporting Classrooms Observation Tool at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 3. Educational achievement (mathematics and literacy) measured using the York Assessment of Reading for Comprehension and Wechsler Individual Achievement Scale III at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 4. Listening difficulties measured using the Evaluation of Children’s Listening and Processing Skills questionnaire at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 5. Speech-in-noise discrimination ability measured using the BKB Sentences test and Who is Right? test at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 6. Hyperacusis/hypoacusis measured using the Hyperacusis in Children’s Questionnaire at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 7. Listening effort measured using the Paediatric NASA Task-Load Index at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 8. Hearing aid usage measured using hearing aid data logging and the Child and Parent Speech, Spatial, and Qualities of Hearing Scale at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 9. Self-reported hearing aid helpfulness measured using a semi-structured interview at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 10. Cognition measured using the NIH Toolbox (Flanker Test, Pattern Comparison, Dimensional Change Card Sort, List Sorting Working Memory Test, Picture Sequence Memory Test), Working Memory Test Battery for Children, and Raven’s Progressive Matrices at research visit 1 (within four to six weeks after device fitting) 11. Wellbeing measured using the Strengths and Di | — |
Countries
England, United Kingdom
Contacts
Public ContactJulia Halstead
Outcome results
None listed