Active clinical trials for "Deafness"

The specific aims of the research study are: Compare single-task gait parameters between individuals with hearing loss (HL) and age and education matched controls with normal hearing [normal vs moderate-profound hearing loss (N=23 for each group)]. For that we will compare the primary outcome measure, gait speed, between the groups while participants are walking at a comfortable speed for 1 minute. Compare cognitive function between individuals with HL and age and education matched controls. For that we will compare the Neurocognitive Index, derived from a cognitive assessment between groups. Compare the effect of a cognitive task while walking on gait parameters between people with HL and age education matched controls with normal hearing. For that we will compare the primary outcome measure, gait speed, between groups while participants are walking at a comfortable speed and counting backwards [serial subtraction of 3] for 1 minute. Explore whether cognitive performance (i.e., the Neurocognitive Index) is correlated with Dual task cost (DTC), a deterioration of gait speed while walking and performing concurrent cognitive task [serial subtraction of 3]. The formula to calculate this is the following: DTC = 100 X [(DT - single task)/ single task].

This is a basic investigational research study conducted with hearing impaired adults and children who use cochlear implant or auditory brainstem implant (ABI) devices. The study will evaluate different aspects of hearing and auditory processing in the users of implantable auditory devices.

Despite the success of cochlear implants, devices surgically placed in the inner ears of patients with severe hearing loss, there remains substantial variability in the overall speech perception outcomes for the children and adults who receive them. The main goals of this project are: i) to improve our understanding of how cochlear implants affect the developing auditory system, ii) apply that knowledge to test new methods for programming children and adults, and iii) to study how long it takes listeners to adapt to new cochlear implant programs over the short- and long-term. The results will improve our understanding of how the deafened auditory system develops with cochlear implant stimulation and advance clinical practice to improve hearing outcomes in cochlear implant listeners.

Background: Hereditary hearing loss is one of the most common sensory disabilities affecting newborns. The main options for people with hereditary hearing loss are hearing aids and cochlear implants. Both options have their limitations and do not restore biological hearing. Researchers want to learn if gene editing might be a treatment option. Objective: To understand the genes that cause non-syndromic autosomal dominant hearing loss (DFNA) in people with DFNA as well as their family members. Eligibility: People age 3 99 who have DFNA, affected family members of enrolled participants with DFNA, and unaffected family members of enrolled participants Design: Participants will be screened with a medical and hearing history. Their medical records will be reviewed. Participants will have hearing tests. They will wear headphones or earplugs. They will listen to tones, sounds, and words and may be asked to describe what they hear. Participants will have balance tests. For these, they will wear googles as they watch moving lights or as cold or warm air is blown into their ears. They will sit in a spinning chair in a quiet, dark booth. From a reclined position, they will raise their head while listening to clicking sounds. Participants will have blood drawn through a needle in the arm. Some blood will be used for gene testing. Some participants will have 2 skin biopsies. The skin will be washed, and a numbing medicine will be injected. Two small pieces of skin will be removed. Participants may have a physical exam. Participation will last for up to 20 years. Participants may give medical updates once a year.

There is high variability in outcomes in children with hearing impairment. Existing literature focus mainly on subpopulations (children with hearing aids, children with CI) and is usually not epidemiological. Often children with additional needs (intellectual disability, visual impairment, autism spectrum disorder, complex syndromes) are excluded from the studies. This subgroup of children makes up around 1/3 of the population of children with hearing impairment. What factors contribute to the unexplained variance in language development in children with hearing loss? (including children with additional needs, multilingual) There is a lack of European epidemiological studies that evaluate the effects of Newborn Hearing Screening and early intervention.

Background: Cisplatin is used to treat head and neck cancer. People who take this drug are at risk for hearing loss. Atorvastatin is a drug used to treat high cholesterol. It might reduce the risk of cisplatin-induced hearing loss. Objective: To find out if atorvastatin reduces hearing loss in people treated with cisplatin and radiation. Eligibility: People ages 18 and older with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck who will undergo treatment with cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation Design: Participants will be screened with their medical records. Participants currently taking a cholesterol-lowering statin medication are invited to participate in the observational arm of the study. Those not taking such a medication are invited to participate in the interventional arm of the study. All participants will have 2 visits. One before starting cisplatin treatment and within 3 months of completing treatment. They will have tympanograms. A small flexible tip will be placed in the ear canal. A puff of air will be delivered to assess mobility of the ear drum. They will have hearing tests. They will wear headphones. They will listen to tones that vary in loudness. They will be asked to indicate when they hear a sound. Participants in the interventional arm will have 2 additional visits for blood tests. These will occur upon consent and 12 weeks after. They will be randomly assigned to take the study drug or placebo orally, once daily. They will take it during cisplatin treatment and for 3 months after treatment. Long-term follow up will include a chart review 2 years after participants complete their cisplatin therapy.

Facemasks may impede communication. Impaired communication may worsen healthcare outcomes. This study explores the problem of hearing impairment in chronic pain patients, and the impact of facemasks on healthcare outcomes in chronic pain patients. Data collection includes patient's age, anxiety score, depression score, numeric pain score, and effects of facemasks on treatment outcomes. Pain is measured using numeric pain rating scale. Depression is measured using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) scale. Anxiety is measured using the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale.

To demonstrate the efficacy of a minimally invasive direct cochlear access via the HEARO procedure in cochlear implantation.

This is a prospective study designed to evaluate the safety and performance of the HiResTM Ultra Cl HiFocusTM MS Electrode and HiResTM Ultra 3D Cl HiFocusTM MS Electrode (Ultra X) under normal conditions of use as it is approved for this device.

The aim of this study is to determine whether measures derived from Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans, and clinical and behavioural measures of hearing loss, in the peripheral and central auditory system (ranging from the cochlear nerve through the auditory brainstem to the auditory cortex) are associated with age and history of noise exposure in otherwise healthy adult humans.