Study of the BEARS Training Package to Improve Hearing in Children and Teens with Bilateral Cochlear Implants Aged 8 to 16 Years

What this Trial Is About

This research aims to evaluate whether using the Both EARS BEARS training package alongside usual care for three months can improve hearing abilities in children and teenagers aged 8 to 16 with two cochlear implants. The study focuses on improving speech understanding in noisy environments, hearing experiences, vocabulary, quality of life, and reducing listening effort. The trial is conducted in clinical cochlear implant departments within National Health Service or University hospitals. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups one group will use the BEARS training package, which includes virtual reality games targeting speech-in-noise perception, music listening, and sound localization, alongside their usual care. The other group will continue with usual care alone. The BEARS training is designed to be self-administered using either a head-mounted display or iPad with headphones, with a recommended minimum of two 30-minute sessions per week over three months. Participants will undergo hearing assessments and complete questionnaires before starting the intervention. They will be followed up for nine months after the three-month intervention period through online and in-person visits. The study measures include spatial speech-in-noise test results, vocabulary tests, fatigue scales, hearing quality questionnaires, and health economic outcomes. Participants and clinicians may also participate in interviews related to the study.

BEARS Training Package to Maximise Hearing Abilities in Older Children and Teenagers With Bilateral Cochlear Implants