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Project 6 - Efficacy of Aural Rehabilitation Intervention with Adult Cochlear Implant Users

Project Number

#H133E080006

Project Title

Efficacy of Aural Rehabilitation Intervention with Adult Cochlear Implant Users

Investigators

Diane M. Brewer, M.A. - The George Washington University

Claire Bernstein, Ph.D. - Gallaudet  University

Matthew Bakke, Ph.D. - Gallaudet  University

Purpose of Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of aural rehabilitation (AR) intervention to improve outcomes for adult cochlear implant users.  The AR protocol will include auditory training, communication strategies training and informational counseling.

Description

The proposed research will examine whether a short-term aural rehabilitation program consisting of auditory training (combining top-down/synthetic and bottom-up/analytic approaches) ; communication strategies training and counseling can significantly improve the speech recognition abilities and psychosocial outcomes of postlingually deafened adult cochlear implant users.

A total of thirty adult cochlear implant users will be randomly assigned to either the AR intervention protocol or the control group.  Each group will meet for a six week program for 1 and ½ hours each week.  Multiple outcome measures will be completed pre-intervention and again immediately following treatment and again at 2 month and 6 months post-treatment.  Measures will include speech recognition prformance on recorded topic related sentences (CasperSent) and a series of self-assessment measures of psychosocial function including personal adjustment, participatio or withdrawal from activities and quality of lfe.

Progress

All materials and equipment are prepared.  Materials have been piloted for each group. Participant recrutment is underway.

Contact Information

Diane M. Brewer

Email - dmb@gwu.edu

Phone - (202) 994-7167