Actively Recruiting
BEARS Training Package to Maximise Hearing Abilities in Older Children and Teenagers With Bilateral Cochlear Implants
Led by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust · Updated on 2026-04-01
272
Participants Needed
13
Research Sites
170 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
G
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Cambridge
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of the BEARS clinical trial is to determine whether using the directional listening training delivered via the BEARS training package for 3-months alongside usual care compared to only receiving usual care improves speech-in-noise perception, hearing experiences, vocabulary and quality of life and reduces listening effort in young people between 8-16 years old (inclusive) with two cochlear implants. The participants will complete hearing assessments and questionnaires before completing the 3-month intervention. They will be followed up for the next 9-months through online and in-person appointments.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
BEARS Training Package to Maximise Hearing Abilities in Older Children and Teenagers With Bilateral Cochlear Implants
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Children and teenagers aged 8 to 16 years inclusive
- Use bilateral cochlear implants, either simultaneous or sequential
- Have congenital severe/profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss with at least one implant received by 36 months of age, or have progressive/acquired severe/profound bilateral sensorineural hearing loss with no implant age restrictions
- Use both cochlear implant processors for a minimum of 6 hours per day over a month
- Have stable implant programmes with no ongoing progressive adjustments
- Have had at least two usual care checks or clinical appointments with stable aided hearing levels and no progressive maps to work through
You will not qualify if you...
- Participant or parent/legal representative does not speak or understand English well enough to complete assessments
- Intellectual disability that prevents understanding the study or assessments
- Comorbid conditions impacting ability to participate in intervention or assessments
- Audiological profiles that affect participation in intervention or assessments
- Active participation in other hearing-related clinical trials
- Current or anticipated treatments affecting hearing outcomes or implant programming
- Refusal to consent to trial activities
- Awaiting reimplantation after device failure or infection
- Non-use of one or both cochlear implant processors
- Full-time boarder at a boarding school
- Unresolvable implant device issues making one implant unusable
- Female participant who is pregnant
- Diagnosis of epilepsy or history of seizures
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 13 locations
1
The Midlands Hearing Implant Programme (Children's Service)
Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom, B4 7ET
Active, Not Recruiting
2
Yorkshire Auditory Implant Service
Bradford, Bradford, United Kingdom, BD9 6RJ
Actively Recruiting
3
Emmeline Centre for Hearing Implants
Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 0QQ
Actively Recruiting
4
Scottish Cochlear Implant Programme
Kilmarnock, Kilmarnock, United Kingdom, KA2 0BE
Actively Recruiting
5
St Thomas' Hospital Hearing Implant Centre
London, London, United Kingdom, SE1 7EH
Actively Recruiting
6
St George's Auditory Implant Service
London, London, United Kingdom, SW17 OQT
Actively Recruiting
7
Auditory Implants: Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
London, London, United Kingdom, WC1E 6DG
Actively Recruiting
8
Great Ormond Street Cochlear Implant Programme
London, London, United Kingdom, WC1N 3JH
Actively Recruiting
9
The Richard Ramsden Centre for Hearing Implants
Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9WL
Actively Recruiting
10
North East Regional Cochlear Implant Programme
Middlesbrough, Middlesborough, United Kingdom, TS4 3BW
Actively Recruiting
11
Nottingham Auditory Implant Programme
Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom, NG1 5DU
Actively Recruiting
12
Oxford Auditory Implant Centre
Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom, OX3 9DU
Actively Recruiting
13
University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service
Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom, SO17 1BJ
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
D
Debi Vickers, PhD
CONTACT
L
Liz Arram, MSc
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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