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Source: isrctn - Le promoteur: University of Southampton
University of Southampton MAJ Il y a 4 ans

Remote care of cochlear implant users Background and study aims Hearing loss, or deafness, is a very common condition which develops as people get older. There are two main types of hearing loss: conductive hearing loss, where the problem is in the middle ear (i.e. in the ear drum) and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), where the problem lies in the inner ear (cochlea), or the nerve that carries information from the ear to the brain for interpretation. The cochlea is a complex part of the inner each which is responsible for converting sound waves into electrical messages which the brain can interpret. When the cochlea becomes damaged, standard hearing aids (which work by making sounds louder) do not work and so a cochlear implant is often recommended. A cochlear implant (CI) is an electronic medical device which is designed to do the work of the damaged cochlea. It consists of an external sound processor and internal parts which work to convert sounds into electrical signals. Once a patient has had the surgery to install a CI, they commit to regular adjustment and rehabilitation appointments in the first year and then yearly follow-up appointments, in order to ensure that the implant is working properly. These appointments can be very inconvenient for the patient as they often have to travel a long way to specialist implant centres. It is thought that for many patients, these appointments are not necessary and that patients would benefit from having more control over their care plans. A possible solution for this could be using remote care, in which the patient is able to access support and information online and can keep medical staff up to date with their condition from their own homes. The aim of this study is to find out whether a remote care plan would work well for patients with cochlear implants. Who can participate? Adults who have been using a cochlear implant for at least 6 months. What does the study involve? Participants are randomly allocated to one of two groups. Those in the first group (remove care group) receive all of their cochlear implant care remotely for six months. This involves tools to test how well the device is working, online support, and help with their speech. Those in the second group (control group) continue to use their current cochlear implant and receive usual care. Patients in both groups attend a clinic after six months, in which they are interviewed in order to find out how well their care plan has been working for them. What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? There are no real benefits of participating, although adults in the remote care group may find the remote care tools useful. There are no risks of participating in the study. Where is the study run from? University of Southampton Auditory Implant Service (UK) When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? May 2015 to July 2017 Who is funding the study? The Health Foundation (UK) Who is the main contact? Dr Helen Cullington [email protected]

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